The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to seek the credentials that underline the fullness of life in the teachers and prophets that we encounter as we seek to live aware of the Presence.
The Reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians urges Vigilance.
* [5:5] Children of the light: that is, belonging to the daylight of God’s personal revelation and expected to achieve it (an analogous development of imagery that appears in Jn 12:36).
* [5:10] Characteristically, Paul plays on words suggesting ultimate and anticipated death and life. Union with the crucified and risen Lord at his parousia is anticipated in some measure in contrasted states of our temporal life. The essential element he urges is our indestructible personal union in Christ’s own life (see Rom 5:1–10). (1 Thessalonians, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 27 Asserts boundless hope that God will bring rescue.
* [Psalm 27] Tradition has handed down the two sections of the Psalm (Ps 27:1–6; 7–14) as one Psalm, though each part could be understood as complete in itself. Asserting boundless hope that God will bring rescue (Ps 27:1–3), the psalmist longs for the presence of God in the Temple, protection from all enemies (Ps 27:4–6). In part B there is a clear shift in tone (Ps 27:7–12); the climax of the poem comes with “I believe” (Ps 27:13), echoing “I trust” (Ps 27:3). (Psalms, PSALM 27 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Luke presents Jesus' Cure of a Demoniac.
* [4:31–44] The next several incidents in Jesus’ ministry take place in Capernaum and are based on Luke’s source, Mk 1:21–39. To the previous portrait of Jesus as prophet (Lk 4:16–30) they now add a presentation of him as teacher (Lk 4:31–32), exorcist (Lk 4:32–37, 41), healer (Lk 4:38–40), and proclaimer of God’s kingdom (Lk 4:43).
* [4:34] What have you to do with us?: see note on Jn 2:4. Have you come to destroy us?: the question reflects the current belief that before the day of the Lord control over humanity would be wrested from the evil spirits, evil destroyed, and God’s authority over humanity reestablished. The synoptic gospel tradition presents Jesus carrying out this task. (Luke, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)
A Member of the Creighton University Community comments that when we see flyers announcing lectures, we often read a listing of “credentials”: diplomas, experience, degrees… It is such cred-entials that are supposed to render the lecture cred-ible.
Jesus had neither degrees nor diplomas: what is there about his word? or in Nazareth: where did he learn all this?. Yet he spoke with authority: what he said came from his heart, from inner conviction …not like the scribes. The scribes needed to quote their Torah, in order to be credible. Jesus did at times also quote Scripture, but he dared to move beyond its literal sense: you have heard… but I say to you… He was not authoritarian, he was authoritative.
His authority was not political clout or temple power, it was moral authority that came from his life witness: who among you can convict me of sin? When life witness is present, there is no need for external cred-entials. Beyond speaking with authority Jesus was living with authority. Pope Francis speaks with authority, because he lives with authority. (Credibility in Teaching, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “New creation begins on the Sabbath,” by Ambrose of Milan, 339-397 A.D.
"He describes the works of divine healing begun on the sabbath day, to show from the outset that the new creation began where the old creation ceased. He showed us that the Son of God is not under the law but above the law, and that the law will not be destroyed but fulfilled (Matthew 5:17). For the world was not made through the law but by the Word, as we read: 'By the Word of the Lord were the heavens established' (Psalm 33:6). Thus the law is not destroyed but fulfilled, so that the renewal of humankind, already in error, may occur. The apostle too says, 'Stripping yourselves of the old man, put on the new, who was created according to Christ' (Colossians 3:9-10, Ephesians 4:22,24). He fittingly began on the sabbath, that he may show himself as Creator. He completed the work that he had already begun by weaving together works with works. (excerpt from EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 4.58) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6, 9-11 comments that Jesus and Paul’s call for us to be ready for something that could happen any day is really a call to balance two impulses. We should be “alert,” as St. Paul says, but not anxious (1 Thessalonians 5:6). But how do we do that?
You don’t have to feel trapped in fear over the thought of Jesus’ return. You are one of countless “children of the light and children of the day” (1 Thessalonians 5:5). The more attentive you are to the One who loves you, the more excited you will be for that day!
“Jesus, help me to be ready to greet you.” (Meditation on 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6, 9-11, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the readings for today. The first part of the First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians speaks of the sudden coming of the end. In 1 Corinthians Paul believed there was not enough time to get married before the end. In the end of the passage the parenesis begins and reminds the community they are children of the light using a dualistic practice declaring while pagans they did live in the dark. Jesus is here for them. In the Gospel, Jesus teaches in the synagogue where he is encountered by an evil spirit who recognizes Him and Jesus exorcises the spirit. Friar Jude notes He frees captives, set people free and heals the sick.
Fr. Richard Rohr introduces CAC core faculty member Carmen Acevedo Butcher who offers a modern translation of Nicolas Herman, Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection, Practice of the Presence, instruction to “work gently”.
During our work and other activities, even during our reading and writing, no matter how spiritual, … we must stop for a brief moment, as often as we can, to love God deep in our heart, to savor them, even though this is brief and in secret. Since you are aware that God is present before you during your actions, that they are in the deep center of your soul, why not stop your activities and even your vocal prayers, at least from time to time, to love God, praise them, ask for their help, offer them your heart, and thank them?…
Ultimately, we can offer God no greater evidence of our faithfulness than by frequently detaching and turning from all things created so we can enjoy their Creator for a single moment. I don’t mean to give the impression, though, that you should stop working or abandon your duties. That would be impossible. Wisdom, the mother of all our spiritual strengths, will be your guide. I am saying, however, that it is a common oversight among spiritually minded people not to turn from outside engagements from time to time to worship God within ourselves and enjoy in peace some small moments of their divine presence. (Rohr, n.d.)
We are restored by the Spirit in our moments of anxiety and distress by STOPing to invoke our sense of the Presence of the Divine as our companion on our journey.
STOP
TAKE A BREATH
OBSERVE
PROCEDE
References
Credibility in Teaching. (n.d.). Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved September 2, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-september-3-2019
Luke, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 2, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/4?31
Meditation on 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6, 9-11. (n.d.). Word Among Us Homepage. Retrieved September 2, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/09/02/1372765/
1 Thessalonians, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 2, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1thessalonians/5?1
Psalms, PSALM 27 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 2, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/27?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. CAC.org. Retrieved September 2, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/work-gently/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). His Word Was with Authority and Power. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved September 2, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=sep2
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