The Friday after Reminiscere Sunday

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.”

At the beginning of the week, we beheld the confusion of the disciples as to their inability to cast out the mute demon from the child. Now, we hear the seventy returning from their ministrations with the declaration, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”

The Lord had sent them out to proclaim the coming of the Christ; they were to prepare the way before Him. But, in this moment of their return, their thoughts focused on one of the signs of the truthfulness of their testimony, rather than on the actual proclamation of the Word. This is the reason for the Lord’s gentle word to them: “…Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” They were fulfilling their vocation, but there was a danger that they would lose sight of the salvation that they had come to proclaim. That their names were written in heaven was not on account of their labors, but on account of the atonement which Christ Jesus made in the fullness of time, which by faith, was their justification before the Lord.

Collect: 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, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.

Almighty and Everlasting God, Who hatest nothing that Thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.