Word to the Wise
Friday, October 9, 2015 - Friday in the 27th Week in Ordinary Time
[Joel 1:13-15; 2:1-2 and Luke 11:15-26]"But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you." [Luke]
OCTOBER 9 ST. LOUIS BERTRAND, O.P., priest
The evangelist, Luke, was writing to a community that was expriencing persecution and misunderstanding not only from religious and secular authorities but from ordinary folks as well. Luke tells the story of Jesus' response to those who claimed that his power over demons came from demons - a kind of "it takes one to know one" comment. His response is a logical one to begin with. Why would Satan battle Satan? Second, Jesus uses an expression that appears with Moses' conquering the persecution of Pharaoh: "the finger of God." That is Jesus' power and the fact that he could overcome any demon imaginable means that he will conquer whatever persecution is brought against his kingdom.
However, one must keep vigilant even when an adversary is overcome, because the opposition will return even stronger than before. One must take Jesus' side and stand firm against all who would destroy the faith. Many of these adversaries operate under "color of the law." What we experience in our own time is a steady "legal" erosion of religious freedom in the name of secular convenience. The Holy Spirit which comes to us at baptism/confirmation will enable us to resist this but we must persevere and stand firm. Luke was writing to us as well! AMEN
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