Friday after Reminiscere
Posted on March 5, 2021 by under
Scripture: St. Luke 10:17-20 (NKJV)
10:17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”
18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
Devotion
The power of the Enemy is faithlessness and spiritual death. Even though we may suffer physical pains and emotional difficulties, that does not mean the serpents and scorpions of Satan’s kingdom have gained power over us. The name of Jesus Christ is placed on us in Baptism, and in His name we have that power like the seventy to overcome the evil one. The faith that our Lord creates and sustains in us by His Word and Sacraments makes us well and keeps us in the life of the world to come. As long as His name and His Spirit are with us, our true well-being is secure.
On the other hand, the devil will continue to bite us, sting us, and poison us in any way that he can. Some evil spirits may be hard to drive out (as we were reminded in Monday’s reading), but our help is in the name of the Lord. The devil only gains a real advantage over us when we ignore or resist the power that is given to us by our Savior. This is why it is so important to remain connected to His Church and continue to treasure the Body where we study His Word and receive His sacred gifts. Our Lord warns His servants not to become complacent or prideful in past victories over evil because the evil one will continue attacking us. But it is Christ Jesus alone who keeps our names safe in His kingdom.
Prayer: O God, who seest that of ourselves we have no strength, keep us both outwardly and inwardly that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
