I would love to have been a fly on the wall of the inner rooms of Herod’s palace as he tried to make sense of the coming of the Kingdom. The Good News was changing the culture right under Herod’s nose, and he knew nothing about what was going on. Reports began streaming in from all over that people were being healed and devils were being driven out. Joy was reaching a fever-pitch as the people recognized the presence of the Kingdom of God dethroning the powers that held the world in their grasp. “What’s going on? Who are these people?”
Jesus did not send his Apostles out to overthrow Herod or to start covert operations against the tax collectors who were oppressing the people or to begin a political movement. Jesus had a different strategy here. He sent his disciples then just like He charges us today to go and announce the Good News that Christ has come as a light into the darkness of a fallen world.
When we are faithful we, like the disciples, see God at work in our own lives and we know the joy of seeing fellow captives set free. We have the privilege of gathering others into the heavenly society of God’s Church through baptism, which will open to them the door of the sacraments that leads to the eternal banquet of heaven. As we spiritually accompany people into the Kingdom, we see on each of their faces the joy of finally realizing they are seen and loved by Jesus, who has given His life for them and feeds them with the Eucharist.
The disciples did their job so well that the news made it to Herod’s palace and made him nervous. Someone was satisfying the hearts of the people in his jurisdiction and setting them free, despite his oppressive policies. He no longer had power over them. He had no idea who was at the bottom of all this truly subversive activity, but something about it made him curious to find out who it was.
As we proclaim the Good News to others, as we heal the sick of heart and uplift the sorrowful, as we bring people to the Eucharist and help them find the mercy of Jesus, there will be a growing fever-pitch of joy in society. As others see the radiance on the faces of those we have awakened with the Good News, they too will want to see who is at the root of this truly subversive activity. And the Kingdom of God will take root directly within the darkness of those who, often without knowing it, are still yearning for communion with the God who made them.
Me hubiera encantado ser una mosca en la pared de los aposentos del palacio de Herodes mientras intentaba comprender la llegada del Reino. La Buena Nueva estaba cambiando la cultura ante su propia nariz de Herodes, y él no sabía nada de lo que estaba sucediendo. Comenzaron a llegar informes de todas partes sobre la sanación de personas y la expulsión de demonios. La alegría entre la gente estaba al máximo al reconocer la presencia del Reino de Dios, destronando a los poderes que dominaban el mundo. “¿Qué está pasando? ¿Quiénes son estas personas?”
Jesús no envió a sus apóstoles a derrocar a Herodes ni a iniciar operaciones encubiertas contra los recaudadores de impuestos que oprimían al pueblo, ni a iniciar un movimiento político. Jesús tenía una estrategia diferente. Envió a sus discípulos entonces, tal como nos encarga hoy, a ir y anunciar la Buena Nueva de que Cristo ha venido como luz en la oscuridad de un mundo caído.
Cuando somos fieles, al igual que los discípulos, podemos ver a Dios obrar en nuestras vidas y conocer la alegría de ver a los cautivos liberados. Tenemos el privilegio de reunir a otros en la sociedad celestial de la Iglesia de Dios mediante el bautismo, que les abrirá la puerta de los sacramentos que conducen al banquete eterno del cielo. Al acompañar espiritualmente a las personas hacia el Reino, vemos en los rostros de cada uno la alegría de finalmente darse cuenta de que son vistos y amados por Jesús, quien dio su vida por ellos y los alimenta con la Eucaristía.
Los discípulos hicieron su trabajo tan bien que la noticia llegó al palacio de Herodes y lo puso nervioso. Alguien estaba satisfaciendo los corazones de las personas bajo su jurisdicción y liberándolas, a pesar de sus políticas opresivas. Ya no tenía poder sobre ellos. No tenía idea de quién estaba detrás de toda esta actividad verdaderamente subversiva, pero algo en ello despertó su curiosidad por descubrir quién era.
Al proclamar la Buena Nueva, al sanar a los enfermos de corazón y animar a los afligidos, al acercar a las personas a la Eucaristía y ayudarlas a encontrar la misericordia de Jesús, se intensificará la alegría en la sociedad. Al ver el resplandor en los rostros de quienes hemos despertado con la Buena Nueva, también querrán ver quién está detrás de esta actividad verdaderamente subversiva. Y el Reino de Dios se arraigará directamente en la oscuridad de quienes, a menudo sin saberlo, aún anhelan la comunión con el Dios que los creó.
Sr. Kathryn James Hermes, FSP, is an author and offers online evangelization as well as spiritual formation for people on their journey of spiritual transformation and inner healing. Website: www.touchingthesunrise.com My Books: https://touchingthesunrise.com/books/
Public Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/srkathrynhermes/ HeartWork Spiritual Formation Group: https://touchingthesunrise.com/heartwork/
Feature Image Credit: Daderot, Public domain, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christ_and_the_Apostles_-_Tiffany_Glass_%26_Decorating_Company,_c._1890.JPG
The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.
1-800-994-9817