Daily Reflections - October 12,2012

 

POSSESSED BY GOD’S POWER

 

Demonic possessions and exorcisms always seem to be fodder for Hollywood productions. Since that landmark 1973 Linda Blair-starrer, The Exorcist, several other movies with the same theme or topic have come out. In fact, there are at least three either “now showing” or “coming soon.”

Today’s Gospel episode can be considered as a complete theology on exorcism. It is an elaborate teaching offered by Jesus, triggered however by provocative questionings on the part of the crowd. Jesus must have seized the opportunity to expound on such a hot topic.

At the center of Jesus’ teaching is His remarkable assertion: “If it is by the finger of God that I cast out devils, then the reign of God is upon you.” We can say that it is not so much a question of the phenomenon itself, with all the horror and gore that go with it (“spinning heads and pea soup,” to use the images from The Exorcist). It is rather the power of God which is above any evil, and which heralds the greater reality of God’s reign. It is a kingdom mightier than any “thrones or dominions or principalities or powers” (Colossians 1:16).

In front of such power of God, we cannot remain indifferent or passive. In fact, we cannot help but take a position either for or against it: “The man who is not with me is against me, and the man who does not gather with me scatters” (Matthew 12:30).

The evil provocateurs at the beginning of the episode were obviously “scattering” against Jesus Christ. And boy, did they get a mouthful from Him. As for us, we simply let ourselves be “possessed” — not by demons, of course, but by God’s almighty power! Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: What possesses you? What power do you obey?

 

Father in heaven, help me to submit to Your power and surrender my life into Your loving hands.