The disciples in today’s Gospel return from their mission of spreading the good news of Jesus.  They come back excited, and likely a little surprised, that they even had power to drive out demons in Jesus’ name!  In response, Jesus tells them that they have been given power to drive out evil.  He reminds them, though, that their excitement should not be because of the power they have, but rather because of their place in the kingdom of heaven.

St. Ignatius’s First Principle and Foundation reminds us that we should seek neither honor or dishonor.  Rather, we should be indifferent to power and prestige and focus on doing God’s will, “for everything has the potential of calling forth in us a more loving response to our life forever with God.” (First Principle and Foundation, translated by David Fleming, SJ)

—The Jesuit Prayer team