The power to cleanse and calm - September 27, 2024

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 88; PM Psalm 91, 92; Esther 8:1-8,15-17 or Judith 13:1-20; Acts 19:21-41; Luke 4:31-37  

Daily Reflection:

Words have power to influence and change, to cleanse and calm. Two readings from Holy Scripture illustrate that in today's lectionary. In Acts 19, we read the story of a riot breaking out in Ephesus in fear that the apostle Paul’s preaching of the Good News will affect the artisan industry in the region. Trading trinkets of the Greek goddess Artemis, the patroness of Ephesus, is big business, and the silversmith Demetrius stirs up his colleagues. There is trouble with a capital T, and that rhymes with P, and that stands for Paul! “There is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be scorned, and she will be deprived of her majesty that brought all Asia and the world to worship her.”

Chaos ensues throughout the city for hours. Two of Paul’s traveling companions, Gaius and Aristarchus, are held against their will in the crowd. Paul wants to join but is advised to hang back. It is finally the voice of the town clerk who stills the storm with his words of reason and judicial process. Clearly and concisely, he says, “You ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. You have brought these men here who are neither temple-robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess…if there is anything further you want to know, it must be settled in the regular assembly.” The town clerk shuts down the cacophony with a message of cool objectivity. And then he dismisses the assembly without further issue.

In Luke’s gospel (4:31-37), there is a man in the synagogue at Capernaum who is afflicted with an “unclean demon” (as if there was a shiny, healthy demon?). The man causes a disruption while Jesus is teaching. As Luke describes it, Jesus rebukes the compromised man, saying, ‘Be silent, and come out of him!’ The demon throws down the man and leaves the body of the man without inflicting additional harm.

Those in the synagogue titter with excitement, amazed, saying, ‘What kind of utterance is this? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and out they come!’ Jesus’ voice – simple and direct – quells the storm of chaos inflicted upon the man by the demon. Be silent. Get out now. Then, there is peace.

The messiness of life is not always ordered by the issuance of clear, calm, concise messaging. Yet, we can be attentive to the spaces in our hearts that are receptive to the gift of the stilling spirit of God. In Psalm 147, the psalmist writes, “He has established peace on your borders; he satisfies you with the finest wheat.” What a gift it is to feel that sense of holy, cleansing calm. May your fingertips brush the tassels of that blanket of peace this day.

Faithfully,

Katherine+

Reflection and Challenge

Whose voice is one you always listen to and heed? Does that person know the ways they influence you for the better? If not, tell them. Give thanks to God in prayer for the calming sense of clarity people in your life bring you. And then pray about the ways you can be a voice of positive change for others.