Dear brothers in the gospel which we just heard, it is clear that the sacred author is trying to clearly identify who Jesus actually is. We are seeing a number of things playing out: first of all, he has power over the demons, unlike any of their prior exorcists. Secondly, they are saying that Jesus has this power only because Satan has given it to him. But, Jesus points out their logical fallacy in that Satan will not want to destroy his own kingdom. Therefore, another truth we are seeing from this gospel is that Satan is in charge of a kingdom of darkness and he has been busy for all these years trying to seduce human beings into belonging to that kingdom. Some of us human beings he has not only seduced, but oppressed and possessed.
Now, they are saying that Jesus is actually on the devil’s side and is working for him. So first Jesus explains their logical fallacy, and then he goes on to explain how somehow, in their false allegations, they have sinned against the Holy Spirit. Let’s take a look at these two individually and see what we can apply to ourselves.
First of all Jesus says that Satan will never work against himself, but only to strengthen his kingdom. Yes, Satan exists, and he has a kingdom. And many go there because they do not believe this to be the case. Our first warning therefore, is to not become complacent with evil. We already struggle from the temptations of the world and from those which arise from our own hearts, but we must also contend with the seductions and tricks of the devil. We need to all be on our guard, because one thing is for sure—our Lord tries to strengthen us in our vocation, but Satan tries to snatch it away so that we cannot be effective in the building up of the kingdom of God. There’s Satan’s Kingdom and there’s God’s kingdom.
Jesus then goes on to say: “But no one can enter a strong man's house to plunder his property unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.” The Church Fathers, like Saint Bede, go on to explain it in this way: The strong man that Jesus is referring to here in this metaphor is Satan. The house is Satan’s kingdom. Satan’s property is the person or people he has in his possession. People that he owns. Jesus came to rescue those people from the devil’s prison. We have heard so many times of psychopaths who kidnap young ladies and keep them hidden in their basement for years. Jesus is the one who frees us from the Devil’s domain, but first he had to overcome the devil, the strong man himself. In every exorcism, Jesus was weakening Satan’s stranglehold on humanity and his oppressive kingdom.
In the first reading from the letter to the Hebrews, the author speaks of Christ as the mediator of a new covenant, emphasizing that Jesus’s sacrifice is definitive, unlike the sacrifices of old. Why? Because he was not just a man offering his life for us, but God himself. And being such, the Holy Spirit dwelt within him, as did the Father. “Philip, you see me, you see the Father.” Hence, when his persecutors said that the spirit within him was evil, he said that this blasphemy would not be forgiven. In a wider context, the source of our repentance is the Holy Spirit who convicts us of sin. If we call him who is all good, evil, we reject the grace he places within our hearts to repent, and hence the unforgiveable sin becomes that sin for which we never ask forgiveness. This too is the sin against the Holy Spirit—rejecting his purifying action within us. And brothers, make no mistake, the Holy Spirit is continually trying to purify each and every one of us, yet how receptive we have been thus far, differs from friar to friar. A sure sign that a friar is being oppressed and attacked by the devil, is a continuous fragmentation within himself. Diaboline, the Greek word from which we get “diabolical”, means to divide. Saint Francis knew how division plagued the Order from the beginning. He knew that the pride of some of the friars would be a huge hindrance for the full effect of God’s grace to take hold of the world in all its power, but he hoped nevertheless.
As we move forward this week, let us pray for the grace to dismantle divisions within ourselves first… to find peace in our souls so we can then be at peace with others. Let us recognize that our Lord Jesus has conquered the devil, and if we remain true to him, we too, with the help of our Lady, the angels and saints, and the entire Church, we too can overcome him and remain his beloved sons in his kingdom, walking in the light, rather than in the darkness. Amen.
Add comment
Comments