Pondering in Our Heart

DAILY GRACE

September 1, 2020, Tuesday of the 22nd Week of Ordinary Time

Friends, I apologize for not getting out to you the “Daily Grace” yesterday. We will just pick up with today’s devotion. I hope you are all safe and well. May God bless and keep you all.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Dave Gilbert

Scripture: Luke 4:31-37

He went down to Capernaum, a city in Galilee, and was teaching them on the sabbath. They were astounded at his teaching, because he spoke with authority. In the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Let us alone! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silent, and come out of him!’ When the demon had thrown him down before them, he came out of him without having done him any harm. They were all amazed and kept saying to one another, ‘What kind of utterance is this? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and out they come!’ And a report about him began to reach every place in the region.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Meditation:

“‘They were astounded at his teaching . . . .”

Luke’s Gospel begins with narratives about God sending messages to people and their response. God send the Angel Gabriel first to announce the birth of John the Baptist, and then to Mary to announce the birth of Jesus. In each case the birth would be miraculous. Elizabeth, Zechariah’s wife, was past childbearing age, and Mary would conceive as a virgin. The doubtful Zechariah demanded proof: “How shall I know this?” (Lk. 1:18). The believing Mary asked for information: “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” (Lk. 1:34). Zechariah was punished for not believing the angel’s word. Mary, instead, was told that she would be overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and the child to be born would be the Son of God. Then she declared herself God’s servant and gave herself over completely to all that God had planned.

Throughout Luke and Acts we see this theme repeatedly: the divine announcement or teaching, and the human response. The angels call poor shepherds to come see the newborn Jesus and then to tell others about it. Simeon and Anna follow inspiration and come to the temple when Mary and Joseph bring Jesus there. Simeon tells Mary that Jesus would be the cause for the rise and downfall of many in Israel — depending on their response. Luke presents Mary as the model of all who hear God’s word: she ponders everything in her heart and she follows the path marked out before her.

In today’s Gospel we witness the first healing after Jesus began his public ministry. The listeners are “astounded.” After the healing they are “amazed.” Since news of him spread everywhere, we can assume the people talked to their neighbors about what they had witnessed. To move from simply being amazed — to being a completely dedicated servant of the Lord, we must pass over a bridge. That bridge is “pondering in one’s heart.”

Prayer

Teach me to ponder, Lord. I have so little time and so much to do. Teach me to ponder as I go and to learn from everything. Make me sensitive to your voice and obedient to your will.

Contemplation

O God, my God, I open myself to your word.

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