In today's gospel from the Gospel of Luke, we see Jesus casting out a demon who in fact is a plurality of demons, just like the demon named Legion who says, “we are many.”
So we're told that in the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon. And yet listen to what he cries out when he sees Jesus: “What have you to do with US, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy US?”
My brothers and sisters, I've lived with an exorcist, a friar who was given this responsibility in Malta. He'd always be exhausted. I'd ask him why, and he said that it would take a long time before a demon would finally relent, even at the name of Jesus, and leave the person.
My brothers and sisters, another exorcist, Father Chad Ripperger, describes how, as we've gone on throughout these last hundred years, this last generation, and we've become more and more distanced from God at the wiles and the cunning of the enemy – of Satan and his fallen angels – they as exorcists are weaker, because they go to an exorcism with a team of prayer warriors, but they are all praying the prayers of the Church – the collective holiness of each and every one of us all around the world.
If that dwindles, then the power of the exorcist’s prayer becomes weaker.
And so, my brothers and sisters, we need to be strong in our faith. Listen to what Saint Paul tells us through his first letter to the Thessalonians in today's first reading: “But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness for that day to overtake you like a thief. For all of you are children of the light and children of the day. We are not of the night or of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us stay alert and sober.”
My dear friends, frequent confession, more insistent prayer, and passionate prayer to love being with the Lord. To allow him to heal us.
How many of us feel attacked immediately after a confession? Absolutely, absolutely.
“Father, last time I went to confession, and as soon as I left, right away, I started getting all these attacks and temptations.” Yes! Saint John Vianney, the curé D'ars, once said, “The devil only tempts those souls that wish to abandon sin and those that are in a state of grace. The others belong to him. He has no need to tempt them.”
My dear friends, let us be strong in our resistance.
When temptation comes, when we look at somebody and we are tempted to judge them, or to have impure thoughts, or whatever the devil tries to instill within our minds and in our hearts (the devil or his demons), let us immediately turn that temptation into a prayer and say, “Lord, that this person makes it to heaven, that they enjoy through your most holy name and your great mercy, the eternal beatitude of Paradise with you. Grant that this happens!” And then, we can pray a Hail Mary, and you will see how the devil will flee. The temptation will cease, and we will have taken a temptation that could have led us to sin, and turned it into a wonderful act of charity for that person.
And who knows if one day, through the grace and the mercy of God, if we make it to Paradise, people will come up to us and say, “You know, on such and such a day, you actually prayed for me instead of thought of me as an inferior or instead of lusting over me. And the Lord heard your prayer and he interceded on your behalf and gave me the grace of conversion.”
My brothers and sisters, nothing is beyond the reach of God. You give him a little bit of your faith, and he will continue to do wonders in your life and in your family, and beyond.
Our lady, Queen of angels, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, terror of demons, be with us. Amen.
Add comment
Comments