I KNOW WHO YOU ARE – THE HOLY ONE OF GOD!

1 Cor 2,10b-16; Ps 144; Lk 4,31-37
4 SEPTEMBER
In God truth is at the service of charity and charity at the service of truth. Truth not aimed at love is not truth. Love devoid of truth might never be called love. Saint Paul teaches that always the Christian’s action is according to truth in charity.

And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ, so that we may no longer be infants, tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching arising from human trickery, from their cunning in the interests of deceitful scheming. Rather, living the truth in love, we should grow in every way into him who is the head, Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, with the proper functioning of each part, brings about the body’s growth and builds itself up in love (Eph 4,11-16).

The Apostle John is also one that combines wonderfully truth and charity. One loves Christ in his truth, but also the brothers must be loved according to the truth of Christ and his love. When truth is separated from charity and charity from truth, there is no true love.

The Presbyter to the chosen Lady and to her children whom I love in truth – and not only I but also all who know the truth – because of the truth that dwells in us and will be with us forever. Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son in truth and love. I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth just as we were commanded by the Father. But now, Lady, I ask you, not as though I were writing a new commandment but the one we have had from the beginning: let us love one another. For this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, as you heard from the beginning, in which you should walk (2Jn 1-6).

St. James speaks of a diabolical wisdom. Satan knows how to use the truth to create damage in the hearts. He uses the truth to hate, not to love, because God’s love might never dwell in him. He injects the truth like the snake his poison.

Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show his works by a good life in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. Wisdom of this kind does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace (Jm 3,13-18).

In the synagogue of Nazareth, Jesus had put all the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to reveal himself without manifesting himself in the fullness of his truth. Instead, the unclean spirit reveals that he is the Messiah of the Lord, the Holy One or the Christ of God. Why does he do this? To ruin him. To prevent him from completing his mission. Satan hates Christ and uses his truth to inflict a mortal blow on his messianism.

Jesus then went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee. He taught them on the Sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority. In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice, “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing him any harm. They were all amazed and said to one another, “What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.

Wise Virgin, Angels and Saints ensure that the Christian always makes the truth in charity.