I was leading a Bible study with my kids and their homeschool friends recently. We were digging into the story in Matthew in which Jesus sent his Apostles out on a mission. He gave them some of his superpowers: casting out demons, healing the sick, cleansing lepers, and raising the dead.
I asked the kids which of Jesus’ superpowers they’d most like to be granted. I gave them carte blanche; even though the passage we were studying didn’t mention walking on water, multiplying food, or turning water into wine, I offered any miracle Jesus ever did as an option.
I appreciated the honesty that came forth.
“Walking on water” was the one that rose to the top of the list, especially among the boys. Still, they all acknowledged that as a superpower, it didn’t seem to be of much use to others, and most pivoted to “healing the sick” as their final, more noble answer.
At the end of our time together, I asked each kid to name a superpower they feel they’ve been given to help others. Each one shared something different: the ability to make people feel comfortable, empathy toward how other people are feeling, a skill at explaining issues of faith, being an effective prayer warrior…on it went, with each person sharing a different superpower.
It was pretty inspiring. Like sitting in Stark Tower among the Avengers, a group of heroes with unique but complimentary powers, all of which are required to fight evil.
It led me to proclaim Jesus as the coolest and most powerful superhero ever.
Although he hasn’t been documented to have x-ray vision like Superman, he can see right through you, into your very heart and soul. Plus, he flew up to heaven.
He’s smart, like Batman, and knows everything (remember when he told Nathaniel that he saw him under the fig tree?) and had the self-discipline to resist Satan and stay on that cross while others mocked him.
He’s got Aquaman vibes, too. Especially when you consider his ability to walk on water, pull coins from the mouth of fish, and know exactly the right time and place to let down the nets for a record-breaking catch.
Like Doctor Strange, Jesus can exist outside of time as we know it.
And that time when he tossed those temple tables in a holy rage is not unlike something the Hulk might do.
(Obviously, Mary is the OG Wonder Woman, and that’s all I have to say about that.)
Could he beat Flash in a footrace or scale buildings like Spider-man? Well, I’m not going to doubt someone who can also multiply things, turn water into wine, control the weather, cure diseases, cast out bad guys with a single command, make blind people see, deaf people hear, and even raise people from the dead, including, yes, himself. Oh, and he made the whole world, including me and you.
Plus, Jesus has no Kryptonite.
(Mic drop.)
And yet, perhaps most astounding of all, he shares his power with us, today, just like he did with the Apostles two thousand years ago.
This can come in the form of our gifts and talents, just like the ones the kids shared in our Bible study.
And then there’s the Eucharist.
The Eucharist is, simply speaking, our chance to get a little bit of Jesus’ superpowers for ourselves. When we partake in the Eucharist, a piece of Jesus is entering into us and his power fills our whole being. It gives us the faith to move mountains and do amazing things we could never do on our own. It gives us wisdom, grace, energy, peace, patience, and an increased capacity for love.
The Eucharist allows us to be Jesus’ sidekick, fighting for truth and justice against the forces of evil.
You may look like a mild-mannered man or woman. I don’t suppose you wear a cape to work. And hopefully, you don’t wear your underwear on the outside.
But you’ve been given powers from the greatest superhero who ever lived.
Are you taking advantage of the opportunity to power up each week at Mass? Are you using the talents you’ve been given to thwart the armies of darkness?
We’re not expecting you to save the world, but we’re counting on you to do your part in the battle.
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