What was the message that Jesus was giving when He spoke
about the signs of those who believed? Well, the message was that His people
could fight and conquer evil in its worst forms. As simple as this. Jesus used
snakes to represent the devil. His
followers, those who believe in Him, could take on and beat off the devil. He
used poison to represent the evil of the world, not just a poisonous potion,
but the poison that is hatred, the poison that is materialism, prejudice,
alcoholism, the drug culture, the sex culture, and on and on. Jesus said that
His followers would be able to take on the poison of the world and defeat it[1].
Then He ascended into heaven. Peter and the apostles
didn’t grieve that Jesus was gone. Mary Magdalene and the women didn’t resume
their crying. No, they were too
busy. Instead, they got to work and proclaimed the wonders and the beauties of
Jesus’ life. The devil went after
them in full battle array. He tortured them, and convinced others to expel them
from their communities. He talked others into killing them. But the devil
didn’t win. He couldn’t stop the work of the Kingdom of God. The followers of Jesus beat off the
snake. All the evil of the world went to war against them. The poisons that
destroy the soul, that destroy life attacked them. The Christians didn’t go into hiding. They took on the poison of the world
and found a life free of evil, a life of meaning, the Christian life.
Jesus ascends to heaven and then says to us: “Get to
work. Fight off the snake, the
devil. Fight off poisons of the
world. You can win these
victories. You can win them because I really haven’t left you. I am with you.
My spirit, the Holy Spirit, strengthens you.
We all have poisons that we have to fight off in our
lives. We all have our own demons.
Some are of our own making. Some
are imposed upon us by others or by situations beyond our control. One person wages a continual battle
against alcohol. Another against drugs.
One is fighting to be in a Christian relationship with his girlfriend or
her boyfriend. Another is fighting
against his or her own selfishness. We will win against the evil of the world
because we have the greatest weapon there ever was. We possess Jesus Christ.
Jesus ascends into heaven and assumes His place as
Lord of heaven and earth. What
does that mean, “Lord”. It means
that He has the power to win, to beat off evil. It means that He is in control. He is our Lord. He is the one who fights for us and
with us.
Snakes will attack. Poison will be forced down our
throats. But we, the people of the
Ascended Lord will beat it all off.
How? Well, the gospel
explains how in its last words: the Lord worked with them and confirmed the
Word.
We don’t wage this war alone. We fight with the might
of the Lord Jesus Christ. And with Him on our side, how can we possibly lose? ■
[1]
The Ascension of the Lord (7th Easter B), May 17, 2015. Readings: Acts 1:1-11
(Ascension); Responsorial Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9; Ephesians 1:17-23; Mark 16:15-20.
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