Thursday of the Third Week of Lent
190. A CLOSER LOOK AT THE DEVIL (LK 11:14-26)
“To choose rightly it is necessary to concentrate on the end for which I am created, that is, for the praise of God and for the salvation of my soul.”
- St Ignatius Loyola, Spiritual Exercises, 169
Luke 11:14-26
He was casting out a devil and it was dumb; but when the devil had gone out the dumb man spoke, and the people were amazed. But some of them said, ‘It is through Beelzebul, the prince of devils, that he casts out devils.’ Others asked him, as a test, for a sign from heaven; but, knowing what they were thinking, he said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is heading for ruin, and a household divided against itself collapses. So too with Satan: if he is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? – Since you assert that it is through Beelzebul that I cast out devils. Now if it is through Beelzebul that I cast out devils, through whom do your own experts cast them out? Let them be your judges then. But if it is through the finger of God that I cast out devils, then know that the kingdom of God has overtaken you. So long as a strong man fully armed guards his own palace, his goods are undisturbed; but when someone stronger than he is attacks and defeats him, the stronger man takes away all the weapons he relied on and shares out his spoil. He who is not with me is against me; and he who does not gather with me scatters. When an unclean spirit goes out of a man it wanders through waterless country looking for a place to rest, and not finding one it says, I will go back to the home I came from. But on arrival, finding it swept and tidied, it then goes off and brings seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and set up house there, so that the man ends up by being worse than he was before.’
CHRIST THE LORD The crowds around Jesus ask him to show them an additional sign to disprove the critics who say he is in league with the devil. Jesus shows how superficial that question is. The devil’s goal is to enslave men and make them suffer, to keep them from believing in, trusting, and obeying God. Demonic possession is one way of working towards this goal. What could the devil possibly gain from pretending to be his own enemy? Jesus sends the devils out of possessed people as a way of reducing their suffering and restoring their freedom. Doing so inspires people to believe his teaching, which is all about trusting and obeying God. Therefore, no sincere observer could mistake his actions as a deceitful plot of the devil. Those who accuse him of being on the devil’s side are obviously not sincere observers, and those who are asking for more signs do so vainly; if they can’t rightly interpret the signs Jesus has already given, they won’t be able to interpret any sign.
Anyone who looks honestly at the figure of Christ in the Gospels and in the lives of those saints throughout history who have faithfully followed his teachings and example is forced to admit that in him the Kingdom of righteousness (the “stronger man”) has overcome the kingdom of evil (the “strong man”). But not everyone takes that honest look. It is the Christian’s job to give wavering believers and non-believers countless chances to do so. The Lord will take care of the rest.
CHRIST THE TEACHER Jesus is involved in a spiritual battle. The devil and his minions play an important part in the history of salvation and in the Gospels, as uncomfortable as that may make us feel. In fact, “This was the purpose of the appearing of the Son of God, to undo the work of the devil” (1 Jn 3:8). In our struggles to grow in Christian virtue and build up Christ’s Kingdom, we have to always keep this in mind. We are not fighting only against natural obstacles. We are not working in a vacuum. “For it is not against human enemies that we have to struggle, but against the principalities and the ruling forces who are masters of the darkness in this world, the spirits of evil in the heavens” (Eph 6:12).
The most important theater of this war, as Jesus makes clear in his parable, is the human heart, the place where we make decisions. Each day we make thousands of decisions. Every decision is based on a criterion, a goal. If the criteria and goals are in harmony with the true goal of human existence and with Christ’s Kingdom, those decisions will be good and thus will contribute to individual and social well-being. The devil wants to stir up selfish motives and self-centered attitudes, so that our decisions will be made as if we were God and everything depended only on ourselves. Christ, through his teaching and his grace, through our conscience and the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, wants to stir up noble and true motives. But neither the devil nor Christ will make our decisions for us. We can make the most of Christ’s grace (especially through prayer and the sacraments) to obtain forgiveness and be strengthened in virtue, but as long as we remain on this earth, we will still have to make our own decisions, and we will still be influenced by temptation as well as grace. Life on earth is a mission and an adventure, but it’s also an ongoing battle.
CHRIST THE FRIEND Jesus is willing to discuss things with his enemies and with those who doubt, just as the Church is always ready to explain her teachings and listen to the problems and complaints of her children and inquirers. Jesus has been facing opposition since the beginning of his life, but he never loses patience, just as the Church is always willing to receive repentant sinners, no matter how many times they need to repent. Jesus teaches, forgives, invites, and sometimes warns, but he never closes the door to salvation. His love won’t let him. Even on the cross itself, as his enemies taunt and deride him, he still showers them with his patient and forgiving love: “Father, forgive them, they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). His whole life is one huge billboard: “You can trust in me no matter what.”
We need to relearn this lesson every day. And we need to do all we can so that our lives continue that same advertising campaign – the salvation of souls depends on it.
CHRIST IN MY LIFE Sometimes I hem and haw about what you are asking me. I ask for signs because I don’t want to accept what I know your will is. I don’t know how you put up with me, Lord. Teach me humility and docility. Teach me the strength and courage to follow you through thick and thin, trusting all the way…
I know that life is a battle between good and evil, but in the rush of everyday life I forget about it. I don’t want to live life on the surface! Save me from skimming along on fashionable and passing preoccupations. I want to go deeper. I want to discover and spread your wisdom, your goodness, and your love…
Patience is so hard for me. But you are perfect in your patience, remaining in the Tabernacle day after day. And you nourish me with your own life, feeding my soul with your virtues in Holy Communion. Activate in my heart the strength of your virtue, so that all I do and say will draw others closer to you instead of pushing them away…
QUESTIONS FOR SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION
1. What struck you most in this passage? What did you notice that you hadn’t noticed before?
2. Why do people continue to resist Christ’s teaching so vehemently?
3. What’s the difference between temptation and sin?
4. What does popular culture say about spiritual warfare? How does that fit into Christ’s teaching?
Cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2087-2094 on faith, hope, and love and the sins against them; 2115-2117 on divination and magic
“To choose rightly it is necessary to concentrate on the end for which I am created, that is, for the praise of God and for the salvation of my soul.”
- St Ignatius Loyola, Spiritual Exercises, 169
Luke 11:14-26
He was casting out a devil and it was dumb; but when the devil had gone out the dumb man spoke, and the people were amazed. But some of them said, ‘It is through Beelzebul, the prince of devils, that he casts out devils.’ Others asked him, as a test, for a sign from heaven; but, knowing what they were thinking, he said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is heading for ruin, and a household divided against itself collapses. So too with Satan: if he is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? – Since you assert that it is through Beelzebul that I cast out devils. Now if it is through Beelzebul that I cast out devils, through whom do your own experts cast them out? Let them be your judges then. But if it is through the finger of God that I cast out devils, then know that the kingdom of God has overtaken you. So long as a strong man fully armed guards his own palace, his goods are undisturbed; but when someone stronger than he is attacks and defeats him, the stronger man takes away all the weapons he relied on and shares out his spoil. He who is not with me is against me; and he who does not gather with me scatters. When an unclean spirit goes out of a man it wanders through waterless country looking for a place to rest, and not finding one it says, I will go back to the home I came from. But on arrival, finding it swept and tidied, it then goes off and brings seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and set up house there, so that the man ends up by being worse than he was before.’
CHRIST THE LORD The crowds around Jesus ask him to show them an additional sign to disprove the critics who say he is in league with the devil. Jesus shows how superficial that question is. The devil’s goal is to enslave men and make them suffer, to keep them from believing in, trusting, and obeying God. Demonic possession is one way of working towards this goal. What could the devil possibly gain from pretending to be his own enemy? Jesus sends the devils out of possessed people as a way of reducing their suffering and restoring their freedom. Doing so inspires people to believe his teaching, which is all about trusting and obeying God. Therefore, no sincere observer could mistake his actions as a deceitful plot of the devil. Those who accuse him of being on the devil’s side are obviously not sincere observers, and those who are asking for more signs do so vainly; if they can’t rightly interpret the signs Jesus has already given, they won’t be able to interpret any sign.
Anyone who looks honestly at the figure of Christ in the Gospels and in the lives of those saints throughout history who have faithfully followed his teachings and example is forced to admit that in him the Kingdom of righteousness (the “stronger man”) has overcome the kingdom of evil (the “strong man”). But not everyone takes that honest look. It is the Christian’s job to give wavering believers and non-believers countless chances to do so. The Lord will take care of the rest.
CHRIST THE TEACHER Jesus is involved in a spiritual battle. The devil and his minions play an important part in the history of salvation and in the Gospels, as uncomfortable as that may make us feel. In fact, “This was the purpose of the appearing of the Son of God, to undo the work of the devil” (1 Jn 3:8). In our struggles to grow in Christian virtue and build up Christ’s Kingdom, we have to always keep this in mind. We are not fighting only against natural obstacles. We are not working in a vacuum. “For it is not against human enemies that we have to struggle, but against the principalities and the ruling forces who are masters of the darkness in this world, the spirits of evil in the heavens” (Eph 6:12).
The most important theater of this war, as Jesus makes clear in his parable, is the human heart, the place where we make decisions. Each day we make thousands of decisions. Every decision is based on a criterion, a goal. If the criteria and goals are in harmony with the true goal of human existence and with Christ’s Kingdom, those decisions will be good and thus will contribute to individual and social well-being. The devil wants to stir up selfish motives and self-centered attitudes, so that our decisions will be made as if we were God and everything depended only on ourselves. Christ, through his teaching and his grace, through our conscience and the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, wants to stir up noble and true motives. But neither the devil nor Christ will make our decisions for us. We can make the most of Christ’s grace (especially through prayer and the sacraments) to obtain forgiveness and be strengthened in virtue, but as long as we remain on this earth, we will still have to make our own decisions, and we will still be influenced by temptation as well as grace. Life on earth is a mission and an adventure, but it’s also an ongoing battle.
CHRIST THE FRIEND Jesus is willing to discuss things with his enemies and with those who doubt, just as the Church is always ready to explain her teachings and listen to the problems and complaints of her children and inquirers. Jesus has been facing opposition since the beginning of his life, but he never loses patience, just as the Church is always willing to receive repentant sinners, no matter how many times they need to repent. Jesus teaches, forgives, invites, and sometimes warns, but he never closes the door to salvation. His love won’t let him. Even on the cross itself, as his enemies taunt and deride him, he still showers them with his patient and forgiving love: “Father, forgive them, they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). His whole life is one huge billboard: “You can trust in me no matter what.”
We need to relearn this lesson every day. And we need to do all we can so that our lives continue that same advertising campaign – the salvation of souls depends on it.
CHRIST IN MY LIFE Sometimes I hem and haw about what you are asking me. I ask for signs because I don’t want to accept what I know your will is. I don’t know how you put up with me, Lord. Teach me humility and docility. Teach me the strength and courage to follow you through thick and thin, trusting all the way…
I know that life is a battle between good and evil, but in the rush of everyday life I forget about it. I don’t want to live life on the surface! Save me from skimming along on fashionable and passing preoccupations. I want to go deeper. I want to discover and spread your wisdom, your goodness, and your love…
Patience is so hard for me. But you are perfect in your patience, remaining in the Tabernacle day after day. And you nourish me with your own life, feeding my soul with your virtues in Holy Communion. Activate in my heart the strength of your virtue, so that all I do and say will draw others closer to you instead of pushing them away…
QUESTIONS FOR SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION
1. What struck you most in this passage? What did you notice that you hadn’t noticed before?
2. Why do people continue to resist Christ’s teaching so vehemently?
3. What’s the difference between temptation and sin?
4. What does popular culture say about spiritual warfare? How does that fit into Christ’s teaching?
Cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2087-2094 on faith, hope, and love and the sins against them; 2115-2117 on divination and magic