The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!” Jesus said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” 

At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” 

Then turning to the disciples, Jesus said to them privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.

I imagine a swarm of 72 disciples running toward Jesus like excited children, talking over one another, and vying for attention. They want to tell him about their experiences, still slightly amazed at their ability to drive out demons. Admittedly, this is something that would cause most of us to become more than a little excitable. Jesus, however, barely acknowledges the feat, instead pointing them toward the thing that they should really celebrate--their salvation. He then continues, pointing out that those who appeared great and powerful in society’s eyes may not be the ones who received and understood God’s message.

This is not the only time that Jesus points out that God and the world do not always judge things by the same standard. It is a good reminder for each of us today. Do I judge myself according to God’s standards or society’s standards? How do I determine someone’s importance based on what the world declares important, or what Jesus tells us is important?

What can I do today to align my perspective more closely with that of Jesus?

—Lauren Gaffey is the director of communication for the Midwest Jesuits and also Works in communications for the Office of Ignatian Spirituality.

Good and gracious God, you give us many gifts and invite us to use them according to your will. Surround us with companions on the journey who will remind us to use our gifts to build your kingdom, rather than focusing on our own glory. Let us be your instruments in our world.  Amen.

—Jesuit Prayer team