One of the most distressing and alarming effects of original sin is that it is possible for the evil one to gain control of a human being, for someone to be possessed. What should be the glorious temple of the Holy Spirit can become a haunted ruin. This can come about through irresponsible dabbling in the occult, getting involved with so called fortune tellers, witchcraft and so on. If we neglect prayer and the means of grace we expose ourselves to many dangers. Left to ourselves the enemy is too strong for us; he will attack when we are weakest, on the day of our misfortune. It is Our Lord Jesus Christ who delivers us from the one who hates us. Ever a liar, the falsehood of the devil is exposed in today’s Gospel: ‘Have you come to destroy us?’ God so loved the world that he sent his Son. He is the way the truth and the life, and he gives us the fullness of life. The Holy Spirit is the Lord and giver of life. It is Satan who is the destroyer.
In today’s Gospel we are told that the people were astonished by the authority with which Our Lord taught; both his tone and his style indicated that his teaching was from God. They were astonished, too, by his authority over the evil spirits. The convulsion and the great cry accompanied the deliverance of the possessed man, after a single command. Jesus’ word was a word of power. By healing and deliverance he justified his teaching. Not only that, he also showed that his power was to be used exclusively for the benefit of his disciples and of the human race. As Messiah he proclaimed the year of the Lord’s favour, setting free the captives. There can be no more humiliating and debasing captivity than that of possession. Thank God, the authority of deliverance ministry continues in the Church.
In the second reading we continue hearing the teaching of St Paul on marriage and the celibate life, which touches the two points of authority and freedom. When speaking of the indissolubility of marriage St Paul is simply repeating the teaching of Our Lord in the Gospel, so he, too, speaks with divine authority. When he proposes the life of virginity to all who have the gift of celibacy he is offering the counsel of one who is totally dedicated to Christ, and so is worthy of trust. To be free of evil spirits is only the first degree of freedom. Paul constantly invites us to cooperate with grace and fight free of covetousness, which is idolatry, to subject our bodies to the control of the Holy Spirit, and to pray continually. Our Lord offers to make us free by sending the Holy Spirit to us to guide and strengthen us, so that our lives may proclaim him to be the Holy One of God.