We need faith to shield us when we are tackling God-sized dreams. We need faith to shield us from the fears that can threaten to pull us down, discourage us, or even cause us to give up and quit. A shield of faith will help us to bounce back from discouraging news. It will help us to respond with optimism. It will help us to keep believing that with God, all things are possible.

Tuesday in the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

1 Corinthians 2:10b-16

Psalm 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13ab, 13cd-14

Luke 4:31-37 And he went down to Caper'na-um, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath; (32) and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word was with authority. (33) And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon; and he cried out with a loud voice, (34) "Ah! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." (35) But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" And when the demon had thrown him down in the midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. (36) And they were all amazed and said to one another, "What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out." (37) And reports of him went out into every place in the surrounding region.

Meditation by Don Schwager

When you read or hear the word of God how do you respond to it? Do you hear it with indifference, selective submission, or with the full assent of faith and obedience? When Jesus taught he spoke with authority. He spoke the word of God as no one had spoken it before. When the Rabbis taught they supported their statements with quotes from other authorities. The prophets spoke with delegated authority – Thus says the Lord. When Jesus spoke he needed no authorities to back his statements. He was authority incarnate – the Word of God made flesh. When he spoke, God spoke. When he commanded even the demons obeyed. If demons, the fallen angels, believe in the power and authority of the Son of God, how much more should we believe in the power and authority of the gospel – the good news of Jesus Christ – with the full assent of our minds and hearts and entrust our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ? If we approach God's word submissively, with an eagerness to do everything the Lord desires, we are in a much better position to learn what God wants to teach us through his word. Are you eager to be taught by the Lord and to conform your life according to his word?

 "Lord Jesus, your word is power and life. May I never doubt your saving love and mercy, and the power of your word to bring healing, restoration, and freedom from sin and oppression."

Supplementary Reading

Shielded!

Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes...In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith. -Ephesians 6:11, 16a

In the movie "Troy," the champion Achilles leads the Greek forces against the city of Troy. The warriors charge up the sandy beach to the city walls. When the arrows rain down on them, the warriors form a barricade by bringing their shields above their heads in a turtle formation. The arrows bounce off as they move forward as a unit - protected under the shell of their shield.

The bigger the shield and the stronger the shield, that's all the better when attacked by negative thoughts and forces. There is nothing bigger or stronger than faith.

Where do you get this kind of faith? You get it by asking God to give you faith. Ask Him to give you more faith. Ask Him to give you stronger faith. He loves to answer this prayer. You have not only because you ask not.

We need faith to shield us when we are tackling God-sized dreams. We need faith to shield us from the fears that can threaten to pull us down, discourage us, or even cause us to give up and quit. A shield of faith will help us to bounce back from discouraging news. It will help us to respond with optimism. It will help us to keep believing that with God all things are possible: That when we go through the waters, they will not overwhelm us. That when we go through the fires, they will not consume us. The shield of faith will protect each one of us in the midst of fires. It will be a life raft in the storms, and it will be a place of refuge when we are besieged and pressured and oppressed. The shield of faith is provided by God for you and me. Take cover. God is our champion. He will not let us down.

Thank You, Lord, for being my loving protector. I have such faith in You! Faith to carry on despite my fears. Faith to achieve despite my failures. Faith to believe again despite my heartbreak. You are my refuge and my strength. Amen.