No disciple is above his teacher, no slave above his master.
It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, for the slave that he become like his master.
If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household!
Therefore do not be afraid of them.
It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, for the slave that he become like his master.
If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household!
Therefore do not be afraid of them.
When your opponent in an argument starts to talk nonsense, you know you've won. And when Jesus's opponents accuse him of casting out demons with the power of demons, their sputtering irrationality is on full display. Even the unlearned crowd must laugh at them.
And so Jesus concludes that contest with an assurance to his disciples, "Do not be afraid of them."
The truth will set you free. It may take a while but those who live within the truth have all the time in the world. They have the Lord's own infinite time, and self-deceivers do not.
I suppose every true religion teaches humility. The student learns it from the master, who learned its value as a student.
Shunryu Suzuki taught this spiritual principle in his classic, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind:
In the beginner's mind, there are many possibilities; in the expert's mind there are few.
The spiritual master pretends to be neither mystic nor expert. Such words mean nothing and the title is empty. Jesus, who was called Master by his disciples, modeled humility as he stood before God the Father. He could no more change rocks to bread than he could wave his arms and fly like an eagle. His obedience was as certain as the law of gravity. No one could know him who did not recognize by his obedience the abiding presence of the Father.
And so we model ourselves after Jesus and those who brought us to him. If Our Lord does not need to be the master of every situation, an expert in every field, and in charge at every moment, we certainly have no need for those things either.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.