Rejoice

Rejoice because your names are written in heaven.

We might be confused by Jesus’ words,  “Do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you”.    Is he telling the seventy-two to be indifferent to their ability to cast out demons?   Not at all!   He is urging them to make a shift in their thinking.   Of course they’re excited to know that their prayer has so much power; wouldn’t you be?   But Jesus wants them to grasp an even bigger picture: their names are written in heaven because they actually belong to God.   Rejoice in that, Jesus tells them.   And he says the same to us.

God gives us many gifts that we can rejoice in.   Everyday blessings like our work, our families, and the food on our table, and spiritual blessings like the ability to pray, to read and understand Scripture, and to receive Jesus in the Eucharist.   We can serve God in our parishes and love God’s people in our families and our neighborhoods.   These too are gifts and blessings from the Lord.   But as beautiful as these gifts are and as praiseworthy as our efforts are to use them, they all point to something much bigger.   They confirm to us that our names are written in heaven.   Our Father, who loves us and provides for us, has given us eternal life.   He has a place in heaven set aside just for us.   Now that is something to rejoice about!

When you pray today, try to picture Jesus in heaven.   Imagine that he is standing in front of you, holding out his open hands to you.   As you look, you can see your name written on his palms.   Imagine him telling you that he is always thinking of you, every moment of every day.   Now picture him turning and pointing toward his Father, your Father.   See God welcoming you and embracing you—not because of your blessed life or your spiritual powers, but simply because he loves you.   He has always wanted you to be with him, and now he is rejoicing that you have come.   So receive his love, and rejoice with him!

-word among us