Do you analyze the roots of events around you to discern whether the evil spirit or the Holy Spirit is behind them? - Daily Reflections August 30, 2016

THE NEED FOR A SPIRITUAL MICROSCOPE

 

What a scary scene in the Synagogue of Capernaum! Jesus is confronted by the devil in the form of a man who is possessed by evil spirits. Interesting that Jesus does not discuss things with the devil. He just commands, “Be quiet! Come out of him!”

       The devil is still a reality in our times. He will not appear to us with horns and tail and an ugly face. No, “the devil wears Prada,” meaning he has adjusted to the modern world and approaches us in the guise of a kind and nice person. But we should not forget that there are not only evil spirits, but that there is a powerful Spirit, also unseen — the Holy Spirit.

       Before the invention of the microscope, we could not “see” what was just under our noses. Even today, primitive people who have been isolated from the modern world and its technology laugh at the idea that their drinking water is full of tiny life forms invisible to the naked eye but could be very harmful to their health. A microscope reveals this reality.

       We need a spiritual microscope that makes us see unseen realities. Because the evil spirits and the Holy Spirit are in themselves so transparent that we cannot see them – and we often think they don’t exist. We can see only their effects. Evil or spiritual gifts are some of their effects. In other words, cruelty, human-made suffering, terrorism are effects of the evil spirits. And the Holy Spirit is like the wind which we cannot see but we sense only by its effects: coolness on the skin, leaves on the trees moving, waves on the water, and so on.

       But one of the most important effects of the Holy Spirit is its focus on Jesus and the Father. That is precisely why Jesus was so keen on sending His Spirit — so that we might finally come to understand who Jesus is. As He said, “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will lead you to the complete truth…” (John 16:13-14). You know you are using your spiritual microscope when you look at the effects. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Do you analyze the roots of events around you to discern whether the evil spirit or the Holy Spirit is behind them?

 

Lord, thank You for opening my eyes to unseen realities. Help me to be always alert of the causes of events around me and trust that You will protect me from evil influences. Amen.