Today's Gospel opens as the disciples are returning home from a mission trip.  The seventy-two disciples are rejoicing and elated.  They said to Jesus: “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.”  These disciples realized that it was not their power that enabled them to work wonders.  Rather, these wonders were wrought by the power of Jesus’ name.  However, Jesus cautions the disciples not to rejoice over their “power.”  Rather they should rejoice because their names are written in heaven.

Power is extremely seductive.  We often hear stories of “how the mighty have fallen” because they were seduced by power of money or control or perhaps by their lack of self-esteem.  Our human reality is that we all need a healthy sense of personal power.  We need to know that we do have a voice.  We need to know that we have the power to make decisions and that we also can influence others.  Yet if we are not mindful, our need for control or power may begin to control us.  

Today Jesus instructs us to rejoice not because we are powerful.  Rather we are to rejoice because our names are written in heaven.

Jesus wants us to rejoice in God and in God’s love for us.  Rejoicing in God is to be our primary quest and aim.  

Today may we strive to be mindful of God’s love and presence with us.  May we rejoice in this precious gift!