Into whatever house you enter, first say, “Peace to this household.” (Luke 10:5)
By Bishop Jarod Cruthis
Have you ever walked into a house, store, or maybe even your job and knew that something wasn’t right? I don’t mean something obvious but something deeper, something spiritual? I certainly have and have learned not to run from it but to shift the atmosphere. In many situations it is much easier to just ignore what is going on or even avoid it all together; however, is that what we are called to do? Quite the contrary. We are called to war. We are called to be a peculiar people who impact the world around us no matter the cost.
So how do we shift the atmosphere? To begin, the more time we spend in the Word, in prayer, Eucharistic adoration, or some other spiritual discipline, the closer we come to knowing the person of Christ. We also have a promise in Scripture that when we draw near to Him, He draws near to us. It is that connection with Christ and the Holy Spirit that we engage the glory. It is the glory that we carry with us that shifts the atmosphere. It doesn’t take mighty words or actions, just that magnificent presence that dwells in each Believer. When the language isn’t honoring, when the attitudes are sour, even when the finger points at you and you want to retaliate, discern, listen and allow Him to use you.
As St. Francis of Assisi put it, and this is my very rough translation, let Him speak before you speak. The Gospel goes before you. Christ goes before you and the Holy Spirit encamps about you. Let the Spirit shift that negative or destructive atmosphere into something that honors Christ. When necessary, speak, but His presence will speak a Word that our natural mind could never fathom.
Beloved, pray with me that we are so full of Christ that demons flee when we enter the room…both in the spirit and flesh!