Reopening Closed Cases

Reading: Revelation 12:7-12

The accuser of our comrades has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our
God. Revelation 12:10
Jesus announces his own "case closed" with his next-to-last breath. If the case against him is
closed, then the same is true for all who trust him. Still, it seems our cases get re-opened daily
here on earth. Some charge, challenge, accusation, some re-indictment coming from other
people calls us to respond.
In today's reading St. John traces this fact of life to the work of Christ's arch-enemy Satan. The
job of accuser is his standard role. When he brings charges against Christians (whose cases
Christ has closed), he becomes a new nemesis. He's the Grand Deceiver, out to con us into
defending ourselves.
You know how it happens. When accused, we knee-jerk our own self-defense; or counteraccuse;
or pass the buck; or deny; or just run. But in all of these "normal" human responses we
are deserting Christ our Public Defender. Abandoning his defense, we re-open our case to sure
defeat.
Today's reading gives heaven's counsel for such situations: "Conquer the accuser by the blood of
the Lamb, by making the Lamb's Word your own testimony." Christ authorizes us to use his
verdict on us for our own testimony when accused in daily life. Doing so we conquer. Reindictment
fails. It's "case closed" again. What a Public Defender to have on your side!
Prayer: We make so little use of your defense in our daily lives, Lord. Worse still, but we often
work for the accuser. Unbind us from being his "angels." Open our ears to your word about us
to use in the courtrooms of our daily life. Put us to work closing, not re-opening the cases of our
fellow sinners. Amen.

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