The Power of L-O-V-E

First Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:10B-16

Brothers and sisters:
The Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.
Among men, who knows what pertains to the man
except his spirit that is within?
Similarly, no one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God.
We have not received the spirit of the world
but the Spirit who is from God,
so that we may understand the things freely given us by God.
And we speak about them not with words taught by human wisdom,
but with words taught by the Spirit,
describing spiritual realities in spiritual terms.

Now the natural man does not accept what pertains to the Spirit of God,
for to him it is foolishness, and he cannot understand it,
because it is judged spiritually.
The one who is spiritual, however, can judge everything
but is not subject to judgment by anyone.

For “who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to counsel him?”
But we have the mind of Christ.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13AB, 13CD-14

R. (17) The Lord is just in all his ways.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. The Lord is just in all his ways.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. The Lord is just in all his ways.
Making known to men your might
and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
R. The Lord is just in all his ways.
The LORD is faithful in all his words
and holy in all his works.
The LORD lifts up all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
R. The Lord is just in all his ways.

Gospel: Luke 4:31-37

Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee.
He taught them on the sabbath,
and they were astonished at his teaching
because he spoke with authority.
In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon,
and he cried out in a loud voice,
“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!”
Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!”
Then the demon threw the man down in front of them
and came out of him without doing him any harm.
They were all amazed and said to one another,
“What is there about his word?
For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits,
and they come out.”
And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.

NAB

We all have that friend.

The one who knows ev-ery-thing about, well, everything. Should I be waving my hand here?!

Back when I was a new-ish mom at the very smart age of 26 with my first child, I knew all the things. Mostly because I had read “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” and “Happiest Baby on the Block,” along with books by Dr. Sears at least five times. Not an exaggeration. Therefore, I knew it all. Thankfully, social media wasn’t around to tell me differently.

About five kids in I finally got smart and realized I didn’t know one dang thing. So many of my mom mentors tried to lovingly guide me, share their wisdom and prevent me from heartache they knew would come. Sometimes I listened, but I was determined to do it my way. Texas stubborn is a real thing.

And while I longed to understand motherhood, I probably would’ve balked if someone had grabbed 26-year-old Kathryn by the shoulders and told her, “Listen up, lady. You’ve got a lot to learn.”

Yet, the older I get and the more kids I have, I’m starting to realize God is telling me—every day—how much more I have to learn. How much more He wants me to grow. How passionately He desires my heart. Just as "with authority and power” He drove out the demon in today's Gospel, I need His authority and power in my life. Always present, always alert, always seeking me. Seeking us.

I find His authority in adoration. I long for it in reconciliation. I seek it in my vocation of motherhood. You see, authority has nothing to do with judgment and everything to do with love.

I’m starting to realize God is telling me—every day—how much more I have to learn.Click to tweet

Are you open to learning still? Is your heart ready for God to have it, hold it, love it so hard? Are you letting Him seek you?

photo credit

Kathryn Whitaker and her husband, Scott, have 6 awesome kids, teen to toddler. She is a former public relations consultant turned freelance graphic designer, party planner, organizer, and preemie advocate who hails from the Lone Star state. You can find out more about her here.