We live in a time of declining church attendance. One reason is busyness; Sunday mornings are consumed with youth sports, catching up on the laundry or the lawn, or just chilling out after a busy week. Another reason might be that going to church is not as much of a thing people do these days; I’m guessing not too many people on your street go to church every week.
I think the biggest reason for many people, however, is that church doesn’t seem relevant. They don’t feel worship and meeting together makes much difference in their lives, and they don’t see much impact from church involvement.
How does church become relevant, even life-changing? Let’s reflect on today’s Gospel:
After Jesus called Simon and Andrew, James and John to leave their fishing nets and fish for people, they all went to church. Well, not church like we know it, but the synagogue in Capernaum, where Simon Peter lived. Simon and his friends had gone to the synagogue for years, but going with Jesus was unforgettable and life-changing.
In Jesus’ day there were synagogues all over the place. They were all built around a similar pattern. Only the men entered the main door of the building; women entered through a separate door and sat in a gallery at the back. At the end of the building, opposite of the entrance, was a curtained alcove where the cupboard containing the synagogue scrolls was kept. In the center of the building was a stage with a pulpit where the prescribed portions of the law and the prophets were read and the sermon was preached.
In the normal service, psalms were sung, the Scriptures were read, and the sermon was preached. A time of questions and discussion followed. But, on this particular day that Jesus was preaching, He had an interruption. A possessed man was in the synagogue.
The possessed man screamed out because he could not handle the purity of Jesus. The demon recognized that Jesus had come to destroy him. The demon identified Jesus. He said, “I know who you are- the Holy One of God.” He confessed Jesus. What an indictment against so many! They deny, while demons confess. Knowing that Jesus is the Holy One of God is not enough. A person has to believe in Christ and love Him: Receive His gift of salvation.
Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit.
Look at the power of Jesus. He casts the unclean spirit out. How? By His Word, by simply saying, “Come out of him.” The evil spirit obeyed and as he left the man’s body, the man began to shake violently.
The ordinary activity of Satan and his demons is temptation, which is nothing more than the attraction to commit sin. God permits these temptations in order that we may overcome them by His grace, and thus practice virtue and acquire merit or reward in Heaven.
Those who heard Jesus teach and saw His power over the demon were left amazed and astonished. They recognized His authority and could not keep it to themselves. Very quickly the news of Jesus and His power spread everywhere.
It’s not enough to acknowledge the power and authority of Jesus. We must submit to Him and we must also share His message with the world. It is only through Him that others can be forgiven of their sins and be transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of God. It is only through repentance and faith that salvation is available. We must be faithful to share this message.
I begin my morning prayers every day with Psalm 95 – the psalm for today’s celebration. For a moment, pay attention to this day’s psalm: “O that today you would listen to the voice of the Lord. Do not harden your hearts!”
It is a celebration of plot reversal. Joy comes from sorrow; a child comes from the barren; the poor are made rich. The Blessed Virgin Mary – a woman, who because of her vow of virginity could not become a mother – echoed this prayer when she became the mother of the God-man, Jesus. God is the master of plot reversal, of the saving of His people from every affliction. He did it for Mary and in every age since the Resurrection of Christ; He continues to do it in His Church.
How do we go to church with Jesus?
We open up the Word of God, expecting to hear from Jesus through the Spirit. Our lives are on the line as Jesus speaks to us.
We invite Jesus to transform us into his image, facing the truth about ourselves, confronting evil and believing in his power to make us what he wants us to be.
We ask Jesus to give us his authority as we go into the world, just as he gave his disciples authority and power. We go out into the world, sharing the good news of his kingdom in word and deed.
When we go to church with Jesus, it is the most important part of our week. It transforms us and makes an impact in the world.
What Jesus did, and what the apostles did, is also what we must do. We are the Church in today’s world. We have been given the mission and authority to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to Oakville and beyond. There are people out there who will never know Jesus Christ, who will never know the Father’s loving embrace, without you.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord and each other!
-Dcn. Terry Murphy