The Gospel passage from Matthew in the
Roman Catholic Lectionary today tells us Jesus left Nazareth and went to live
in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. (Matthew 4.12).
The First Letter of John continues to warn the community, to which the author
speaks, that there are spirits which do not come from God. When we live to put
God at the forefront of our consciousness and we act with love toward our
neighbours, the Sprit of God which is given to us is activated and we become
aware of those spirits which are not truth and light which do not confess the Incarnation
of God in Jesus flesh. The author warns that these spirits will lead us away
from our journey in intimacy with the Divine. Marcia Shadle Cusic of CreightonUniversity reminds us of Ignatian Spirituality which speaks about the spirits
and describes the need to discern whether or not the spirit, which is moving
you, is of a good or of an evil spirit. St. Ignatius came to discern that the spirits
which came from God led to happiness and peace. Those from the devil led him to
sadness. The Spirit moving in Jesus took Him to the land of commercial traffic
and pagan beliefs. Don Schwager enumerates the good news which Jesus brought
these people was of peace (restoration of relationship with God), of hope (the
hope of resurrection and heaven), of truth (God's word is true and reliable),
of promise (he rewards those who seek him), of immortality (God gives
everlasting life), and the good news of salvation (liberty from sin and freedom
to live as sons and daughters of God). The response of the people of the region
is (Matthew4:25) great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis,
Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.
The message which brings peace and which activates the indwelling Spirit
to action is both gift and mission to those who discern it.
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