Most of us probably know what is the biggest problem in our life right now. It’s relatively easier to know what’s bothering us. Much harder is identifying the greatest blessing right now in our life. If you were to rejoice in one blessing, do you know what it is? Let’s take some seconds to think about it.
Jesus always wants us to overflow, and today, He wants us to overflow in joy. To do that, we need to focus on the greatest blessing because the more we do that, the greater the joy! The Gospel says, “The seventy [disciples] returned [from their mission of healing and preaching] with joy, saying, ‘Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!’” (10:17). But Jesus redirects their focus, “Do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Lk 10:20). Elsewhere, Jesus teaches that casting out demons is good, but it can be done even by people who don’t love Him (Mt 7:21-23)—so that’s not the greatest blessing. The greatest blessing is that Jesus has redeemed us and we’ve responded. God knows us by name and we know His name, ‘Father.’
Recently, when one woman was asked how overflowing she is, she shared that, of all the good things happening in her life, what’s best is that this is the year she’s grown closest to God.
Two years ago, we talked about St. Josephine Bakhita and how someone had observed that she had a kind smile but not a happy one. She had been abducted by slave raiders in Sudan when she was seven, but, when brought to Italy, she was introduced to Jesus, “into a relationship with that God whom, ever since I was a child, I had felt in my heart without knowing who he was.” Over time, she realized the Father’s love for her, and so she said, “I am definitively loved and whatever happens to me—I am awaited by this Love. And so my life is good”. After her Baptism, the same person who observed St. Josephine’s unhappy smile now noticed her joy.
As we begin our annual Sabbath Summer, the summer of resting in God, our lives are not perfect and there is suffering, but there’s much in which to rejoice. Some of us (especially me) will rejoice that today’s homily is really short, but there’s something better in which to rejoice.
For the rest of Mass, could we rejoice in that one greatest blessing and tell Jesus, ‘Thank You’? And, if we tell other people about this blessing from Jesus, let’s mention His name. Speaking Jesus’ name is a sign of love. Often, we’re timid about praising Him by name. Some months ago, I was edified by how many NFL players are courageous in speaking Jesus’ name.
After today’s Gospel, it says, “At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, ‘I thank you, Father… because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants” (Lk 10:21). This is our model for overflowing: Jesus rejoices in the Holy Spirit, praises the Father by name, and focuses on the greatest blessing.