In today’s first reading, Paul speaks of the Holy Spirit and the Spirit’s relation to God, to Christ and to knowledge.

Professionally, I have been trained in the “scientific method.” Paul seems to be laying out what might be called the “spiritual method.” Earlier in this chapter Paul admits not having physically experienced the life of Jesus, yet my impression is that Paul’s impact on early Christianity was greater than any of the apostles. If I imagine myself as part of Paul’s audience, I see Paul explaining how we can gain a new wisdom outside of physical experience. In contrast to some scholars who see today’s reading as a consideration of the Trinity, I am moved to consider how we know what we know. I like to think that we establish knowledge through observation and testing. I see Paul as suggesting a different path to knowledge.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks in the synagogue in Capernaum and drives out a demon.

I think back to the classroom during my many years of teaching. I never had a heckler. I did have people who were not paying attention. It seems Jesus had a very different impact on his audience when he explained the Scriptures than I did when I explained physics. Jesus was clearly able to actively involve those around him.

The people of Capernaum see Jesus as speaking with authority. This is in stark contrast to what had just happened to Jesus in Nazareth. He was driven out of town and Jesus was quoted as saying, “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place.”

Where you grow up people know your family. This so often defines the roles and expectations of individuals. I am not sure what the expectations were for the son of a carpenter in the first century. My guess is that they expected him to be a carpenter. I think back to when I was in a suburban elementary school. The son of a doctor was regarded differently from the son of carpenter. The Gospel made me recall a specific instance where some students mistreated the son of someone working in the trades. Although I wasn’t a source of this particular cruel act, I did little to spare this individual (as well as others) from the painful abuse that people can do. I am moved to consider how often I make assumptions about people based on their background rather than what I know about them as an individual.

Dear Lord,
Open my heart to the experience of all that the Spirit can bring.
Allow me to know with the gifts of Your wisdom and grace.
Guide my perceptions.
Help me not to judge on the basis of unconscious biases.
Grant me an awareness of the occasions where I am called to serve as a support for those who are troubled by demons of all sorts.