Daily Gospel Reflection
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May 22, 2024
John said to Jesus,
“Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name,
and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.”
Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him.
There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name
who can at the same time speak ill of me.
For whoever is not against us is for us.”
The name of Jesus isn’t limited to only the initiated, educated, or highly skilled. It is given freely—even to you and me today. The strongest weapon against anxiety, distraction, or sinful thoughts is the name of Jesus.
This truth has never been more powerfully expressed than in this little-known passage from the Philokalia on Prayer of the Heart, a collection of ancient monastic writings on the art of prayer.
“When you notice thoughts arising and accosting you, do not look at them, even if they are not bad; but keeping the mind firmly in the heart, call to Lord Jesus and you will soon sweep away the thoughts and drive out the instigators—the demons—invisibly scorching and flogging them with this Divine Name. Thus teaches John of the Ladder saying: with the name of Jesus flog the foes, for there is no surer weapon against them either on earth or in heaven.”
The constant invocation of the Name of Jesus overcomes sin and roots us in Christ. St John Chrysostom recommends the recitation of the Jesus prayer, “Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me,” as a way of “living always with the name of Lord Jesus so that the heart absorbs the Lord and the Lord the heart, and the two become one.”
May we never forget that our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Prayer
Christ our Lord, you take joy when others perform mighty deeds in your name. Take joy in us, by giving us the grace to perform good works for others in your name. May others come to know of your love and your healing presence through the charity that you inspire in us. Amen.