Luke 10:18-22: a reflection

18He said to them, “I saw Satan having fallen like lightning from heaven. 19Behold, I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will in any way hurt you. 20Nevertheless, don’t rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” 21In that same hour, Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight.” 22Turning to the disciples, he said, “All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is, except the Father, and who the Father is, except the Son, and he to whomever the Son desires to reveal him.”

The disciples return elated that even the demons submitted to them in Jesus' name. But Jesus gently redirects their joy. Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, he says, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. The gift and the success were real; but Jesus points them to a deeper ground for joy: not their spiritual powers or accomplishments, but their belonging to God, their names written in heaven. And he thanks the Father for revealing these things to little children, the humble, rather than to the wise.

Notice how Jesus redirects the disciples' joy. They rejoiced in their success, in the power they had exercised; and Jesus does not deny that this was real. But he points them to a better ground for joy: that their names are written in heaven, that they belong to God. Success and gifts can be taken away, and can feed pride; but belonging to God is a surer and deeper joy. Rejoice in that, Jesus says, above your accomplishments.

That redirection is one we need, for we are prone to ground our joy in our successes and accomplishments rather than in belonging to God. When things go well, when we succeed, when our efforts bear fruit, we rejoice in the success itself; and there is a place for that. But Jesus points us to a deeper joy: that our names are written in heaven, that we belong to God. This joy does not rise and fall with our successes, and does not feed pride. Ground your deepest joy not in your accomplishments or successes, which can be taken away and can puff you up, but in belonging to God, your name written in heaven. Rejoice in your successes rightly; but rejoice most, as Jesus taught, that you belong to God, a joy that stands whatever your successes, and does not depend on them.

Lord Jesus, when the disciples returned elated that the demons submitted to them, you redirected their joy: do not rejoice that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. Redirect my joy in the same way. I am prone to ground my joy in my successes and accomplishments rather than in belonging to you. When things go well, when I succeed, when my efforts bear fruit, I rejoice in the success itself; and there is a place for that. But you point me to a deeper joy: that my name is written in heaven, that I belong to God. This joy does not rise and fall with my successes, and does not feed pride. Help me ground my deepest joy not in my accomplishments or successes, which can be taken away and can puff me up, but in belonging to you, my name written in heaven. Help me rejoice in my successes rightly; but help me rejoice most, as you taught, that I belong to God, a joy that stands whatever my successes, and does not depend on them. Let my deepest joy be that I am yours, Lord.