The Gospel last Sunday was about a contest between two superpowers. It is a contest as old as creation and it is a contest going on still today.
On one side we have demons, in the Gospel, an unclean spirit, and on the other side is Jesus Christ. The demon in the Gospel, and demons in general, are good at shouting. In the Gospel story, the unclean spirit shouts: “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth”?
On the other side, Jesus begins the contest with words of rebuke, and then the word: “Quiet”! As soon as that word is said, the outcome is decided. Based on that one word, it is obvious that Jesus has authority and power. And then came the words addressed to the demon: “Come out of him.” Making a big scene, the unclean spirit comes out of the man.
Although the contest between Jesus and this unclean spirit was over soon, the overall contest between Satan and Jesus continues. It continues in each of us and in us together.
Taking a closer look at both teams, the team of the unclean and demonic spirits and the team led by Jesus, we can conclude that the team of Satan is worldwide, famous, and familiar. Their team is composed of injustice, war and famine, child abuse, abuse of power, corruption, and materialism as the team leader. Other players are more local and individual, like alcohol and drug abuse, laziness, bitterness, disobedience to God, and fake news and frauds. These are all tough players, and they are hard to knock down. They are cheered and encouraged on by cheerleaders like pride, anger, selfishness, lust, envy, and greediness. They also are cheered on by discouragement, impatience, indifference, stress, and infidelity. These are tough and determined players in the game that is our life.
However, with God in us, they can be easily defeated. But they have a great comeback ability. Months, or even years after one may think one has overcome one of these players, there they are again, afflicting us again, and we are fighting them again.
What about Jesus’ side? Who are his key players? They are faith, hope, charity, joy, love, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, gentleness, self-control, and prayer. These tough players on Jesus’ side are cheered and encouraged on by prudence, justice, service, responsibility, truth, freedom, and openness to God’s will and God’s grace.
The Demons sent in their best into our life and Jesus sends his. In us, the war is fought. It is also fought among us, and between us, on a worldwide scale.
My dear friends, this fight between God and Satan, between Good and Evil, is a fight that is burning hot inside us day and night. Both teams sent their best players, and their success depends on our choice because we are the judges and arbiters in this game called life. It is sad to note, though, that if the demonic team wins, we lose. We can only hope to win if we will be able to stand against the enticing offers and bribes of Satan. Let us take note that I emphasized that the team leader of Satan is materialism. In our situation nowadays, where poverty and hunger are everywhere, we can easily be tempted to embrace a life of abundance in a fast and effortless way to have it all through illegal ways and means, even through corruption and ambiguity.
We all know that the players of Satan are so tough to be defeated alone and unaided with God’s grace. We cannot easily defeat them in this game if we are yet undecided to abandon this material world and hope to be part of God’s kingdom. But there is still that ember of hope in front of every one of us. There is at least a pinch of goodness in each one of us.
So, each day we must call on Jesus and his players of faith, hope, charity, peace, patience, self-control, and selflessness. And we also pray and ask Jesus to come to us in person and bring with him his best players.