Gospel: Luke 4:31-37
Jesus 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, “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.
The Gospel of the Lord.
The Mass intention is for Bob C’s intentions.
Reflection:
In today’s Gospel, the people were amazed of Jesus’ teaching and miracle: “What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out”. Notice how the unclean demon recognized Jesus as the Holy One of God. By driving out the demon from a man in the synagogue, Jesus launches a spiritual combat to free humanity from the powers of the Evil One. Fr Serge-Thomas Bonino, OP wrote: “In this combat, the church, following St Paul, encourages the faithful to “put God’s armour on so as to be able to resist the devil’s tactics” (Ep 6:11).
This combat continues until the end of time. What is worrying is when people stop believing in God and start believing in the Devil. You may have seen in the news statues of the Devil being displayed in public places. Or perhaps Satanic worship being held. Or it could be the injustice, immorality, and hedonism pervading around us. St Augustine has this advice: “The greater evidence we see of demonic power over these depths on earth, the more inseparably should we cling to the Mediator by whose power alone we can rise from the deepest depth to the heights of heaven”. During Easter Sunday Mass and Baptisms, we renew our baptismal vows of believing in God and rejecting Satan. To whose army do we belong to?
· Does to the presence of demons make you afraid or courageous? Why or why not?
· How do you practice your faith despite the presence of evil in society?
· How do you arm yourselves for the spiritual combat?
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word today. Strengthen us always so that we may faithfully fight with You against Satan and his evil army. Amen.
Sincerely,
Pietro
