February 5, 2025

Today's Reading: Luke 4:31-44

Daily Lectionary: Job 2:1-3:10; John 1:19-34

And they were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” (Luke 4:36)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

We return again to this reminder: Epiphany is the season of the Church that reveals and enlightens us about who Christ is. Today, we get to see this unfold in an exorcism. Now, modern horror films and stories portray this elaborate and horrific image of demonic possession. And often, it becomes this story about the priest’s faith versus the power of the demon. Usually, all who walk away from the story shiver in the spine and are terrified to look in the mirror, go down to the basement, or be by themselves. All of it is enough to show that this is not the fruit that comes from God, and more importantly, this is now how our God has called us to live. In actuality, an exorcism is a lot like what happens when we repent. It is not about our faith having to be strong enough, the priest’s faith, the kind of demon, etc. It is about encountering TRUTH and our realignment to that very truth. It is the Truth of the Gospel that encounters us with the authority of Christ. It’s not about how much faith we have. It’s about the power that is in Christ Alone and what He has done to the powers of darkness. He has, by His very blood, made a public mockery of them (cf. Colossians 2:15). And you have been made a partaker of this Heavenly power in Christ, for all who are baptized into Christ and all who drink of His Body and Blood, are one with Him as He is one with them. You need not fear the dark. You need not fear the wicked spirits. You need not feel stuck or trapped. Their power has been brought to nothing in the blood of Christ. Keep your eyes on Jesus, your confidence in your Baptism, and your heart captivated by the Word of God; demonic darkness will have no power over you.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

I bind unto myself today The strong name of the Trinity By invocation of the same, The Three in One and One in Three. Against the demon snares of sin, The vice that gives temptation force, The natural lusts that war within, The hostile foes that mar my course; Or few or many, far or nigh, In every place and in all hours, Against their fierce hostility, I bind to me those holy pow’rs. (LSB 604:1,4) 

-Rev. Matthew Synnott, associate pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Peoria, IL.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

What makes a church "good?" Come join the fictional family as they test out eight different churches in their brand-new town and answer this question along the way. Will the Real Church Please Stand Up? by Matthew Richard, now available from Concordia Publishing House.