Being Prepared for Spiritual Battle

Gospel Reflection

No gospel reflection for today’s readings. Enjoy this reflection on the gospel written by Judson Carroll.

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.

-Lk 4:31-37

In today’s gospel, we read about the authority of Jesus, both as a teacher and over demons and evil spirits. Having been raised Protestant, we were never taught about such things. It is somewhat ironic that the Protestant denominations who claim “sola scriptura” or the bible alone as their sole authority don’t seem to believe much in the words of the Bible. Demons and such are generally considered just old-fashioned superstition…. Much as are the sacramentals such as blessed religious items, holy water, blessed salt and oil, etc. It seems that Protestant doctrine wants to deny the spiritual interacting with the physical world – no Eucharist or Holy Water, no interaction with angels or danger from demons…. And few real, physical miracles. This is a true shame. On the one hand, their understanding of the true power of God is limited. On the other, they are in great danger of demons and evil spirits. Those dangers are very real. Even if one did not believe the plain words of the Bible, a quick look at the violence and horror in our daily headline news should be enough to convince anyone of the reality of intentional, satanic evil.

Before the time of Christ, Judaism and other religions had exorcists. They performed elaborate rituals and prayers in attempts to free afflicted people from possession. Sometimes they were successful, but often the forces of evil were just too powerful. In our Lord’s first public actions He gave us a powerful remedy. The Baptized Christian is protected and cannot be possessed by demonic forces against his will. They may still be tempted and tormented by the powers of evil, but after Baptism, an act of will is necessary for them to be dominated by evil; they have to assent. Before Christian Baptism, an innocent person could be possessed unwillingly and was a true victim of evil. Confirmation and the Eucharist further protect us from evil.

Unfortunately, the effects of Original Sin have placed in our hearts, concupiscence, or the proclivity to be more inclined to evil than good. So, we do not have to fight demonic forces alone, but our own will and nature. While struggling against our own sinful nature may be less scary than demons and evil spirits, the evils of human nature probably lead far more people to eternal damnation. That said, I do not mean to understate the supernatural powers of evil. When I was a very new Catholic, I chanced into a church while traveling and got to hear the visiting priest…. The actual exorcist on whom the horror movie was based give a homily on the reality of demonic possession and the importance of protecting ourselves from supernatural evil. This was to me sort of a Wizard of Oz type moment, the realization, “we’re not in Kansas anymore.” In the Catholic Church, the supernatural is just as real as in the Bible!

Although it is terrifying to contemplate, we must remember another passage of the Bible from Acts:

Now some also of the Jewish exorcists who went about, attempted to invoke over them that had evil spirits, the name of the Lord Jesus, saying: I conjure you by Jesus, whom Paul preacheth.

And there were certain men, seven sons of Sceva, a Jew, a chief priest, that did this.

But the wicked spirit, answering, said to them: Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?

And the man in whom the wicked spirit was, leaping upon them, and mastering them both, prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

And this became known to all the Jews and the Gentiles that dwelt at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

And many of them that believed, came confessing and declaring their deeds.

And many of them who had followed curious arts, brought together their books, and burnt them before all; and counting the price of them, they found the money to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.

So mightily grew the word of God, and was confirmed.

Through the authority of Jesus, we are protected from evil unless we assent to it. Through the Sacraments we are filled with the Holy Spirit. Through sacramentals we can drive demonic forces from us and our household. Demons flee from Holy Water, blessed salt, blessed oil, blessed Crucifixes, icons of angels and saints, etc. Wear the Brown Scapular, Pray the Rosary, wear a Saint Benedict or Holy Face of Jesus Crucifix. Never worry about being seen as old fashioned or superstitious… I would rather be old fashioned and protected from evil through the Church than modern and on my own!

Judson Carroll is the author of several books, including his newest, Confirmation, an Autobiography of Faith. It is Available in paperback on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C47Q1JNK

His new podcast is The Uncensored Catholic https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-uncensored-catholic