Would we have believed it? If we had been among the crowd that witnessed the miracle in today’s Gospel, would we have stood amazed at the power of God, or would we have been looking for the trick? Do we try to rationalize it thinking that it’s by the power of demons that He drives out demons? Or maybe we would have been among those other doubters who, upon witnessing the first miracle, demand another as proof of the first.
As for me, I like to imagine that I would have stood in awe and wonder at the glory on display in front of me, but if Christ were to come again in my lifetime, and His miracles happened on the streets of my town, I’m afraid I would be just as distracted and looking for the scam as those in the Gospel.
Jesus is who He says he is. By this time in Luke’s Gospel, He has calmed the sea, healed the hemorrhaging woman, raised Jairus’s daughter from the dead (but they were keeping that one on the down-low), and fed the five thousand. Why do the people doubt the miracle they see? The people had been longing for their Messiah for centuries, dreaming of what it would be like when He finally arrived. Now, here He was, but rather than riding in triumphant and wreaking vengeance on all who had mistreated them, He was turning what they knew upside down, asking them to change everything to follow Him.
Then Jesus explains that the people are like the strong man, fully armed, guarding his palace. They’ve got it covered. They feel safe, and in control. They are comfortable with what they know. But now, here comes this greater power that can scatter that armor and it’s daunting.
Maybe the people in the crowd doubted because, if Jesus was who He said He was, too much would be asked of them. Maybe it was easier to write Jesus off as a fake than to stand up and answer His call. Could they be kind of intrigued by Jesus, but not quite buy the whole deal? No. Jesus’ response indicates there is no lukewarm. “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”
Those standing in the crowd that day had only had a few months to get to know their Savior. We’ve had a lifetime, buoyed by centuries of wisdom from holy men and women who’ve preceded us. He calls each of us today as He called that crowd gathered in the Holy Land. “You know in your heart who I am. Now you are either with me or against me.”
How will you answer?
¿Lo hubiéramos creído? Si hubiéramos estado entre la multitud que presenció el milagro del Evangelio de hoy, ¿nos hubiéramos quedado asombrados ante el poder de Dios o hubiéramos estado buscando algún truco? ¿Intentamos racionalizarlo pensando que es por el poder de los demonios que expulsa a los demonios? O tal vez habríamos estado entre esos escépticos que, al presenciar el primer milagro, exigen otro como prueba del primero.
En cuanto a mí, quisiera imaginar que me hubiera quedado maravillada ante la gloria que se desplegaba ante mí, pero si Cristo volviera en mi vida y sus milagros ocurrieran en las calles de mi ciudad, desafortunadamente creo que estaría igual de distraída y buscando algún engaño que las personas en el Evangelio de hoy.
Jesús es quien dice ser. Para este momento del Evangelio de Lucas, Jesús ya había calmado el mar, sanado a la mujer que sufría de hemorragia, resucitado a la hija de Jairo (aunque esto se mantenía en secreto) y alimentado a los cinco mil. ¿Por qué dudaba la gente del milagro que presenciaban? Llevaban siglos anhelando a su Mesías, soñando con su llegada. Y ahora, allí estaba, pero en lugar de llegar triunfante y vengarse de quienes los habían maltratado, estaba transformando radicalmente su forma de vida, pidiéndoles que cambiaran todo para seguirlo.
Luego Jesús explica que la gente era como un hombre fuerte, completamente armado, que custodiaba su palacio. Se sentían seguros, confiados y en control. Estaban cómodos con lo que conocían. Pero ahora, llegaba un poder superior capaz de destruir esa armadura, y eso los intimidaba.
Quizás la multitud dudaba porque, si Jesús era quien decía ser, se les exigiría demasiado. Quizás era más fácil tachar a Jesús de farsante que responder a su llamado. ¿Podrían tener cierta curiosidad sobre quién era Jesús pero sin llegar a creer en él por completo? No. La respuesta de Jesús indica que no hay un entremedio: “El que no está conmigo, está contra mí; y el que no recoge conmigo, desparrama”.
Quienes estaban entre la multitud aquel día apenas habían tenido unos meses para conocer a su Salvador. Nosotros hemos tenido toda una vida, fortalecidos por siglos de sabiduría de hombres y mujeres santos que nos precedieron. Él nos llama a cada uno hoy como llamó a aquella multitud reunida en la Tierra Santa: “Ustedes saben en su corazón quién soy. Ahora bien, o están conmigo o están contra mí”.
¿Cómo responderás?
Pamela Kavanaugh is a grateful wife, mother, and grandmother who has dedicated her professional life to Catholic education. Though she has done her very best to teach her students well in the subjects of language and religion, she knows that she has learned more than she has taught. She lives, teaches, and writes in southwest suburban Chicago.
Feature Image Credit: Brendan Church, unsplash.com/photos/white-and-black-one-way-printed-road-signages-pKeF6Tt3c08
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.
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