Possessed by the Holy Spirit, Not the Devil!

Monday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
Memorial of Saint Angela Merici


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Gospel of Mark 3:22-30

The Scribes who had come from Jerusalem said of Jesus, "He is possessed by Beelzebul," and "By the prince of demons he drives out demons."  Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables, "How can Satan drive out Satan?......Amen, I saw to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them.  But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin." 

The snooty Scribes, like the pesky Pharisees, talk a lot of "trash" about Jesus.  They accuse him of being possessed by Beelzebul.  Jesus was never under Satan influence but always under Godly influence! Obviously the scribes spread around  "trash talk" to damage Jesus' growing influence and popularity.  They didn't like competition. They didn't like a poor man from Nazareth converting people to his cause.   The true blasphemers are the Scribes for even questioning Jesus' credibility.    The Holy Spirit allows Jesus to throw out the demons, not some angel of the devil. 

Recently in the news, a group of Satanists out of NY petitioned the State of Oklahoma to place a statue of Satan right next to the Ten Commandments on the footsteps of the Capitol.  The statue depicts Satan sitting in a chair with two children.  The image is visually disturbing.  I don't know how anyone could conscientiously support such an image but evidently it looks like the group may just get their wish granted. Clearly this move of controversy is meant to show "equal" representation for Christians and Satanists (or Atheists).     All I can think is, "What is this world coming to? I guess we're embarking on a neo-paganism!  Will we start seeing statues of Satan heads and pentagrams all over our state capitols?"  Just like  pagans of biblical times worshiped "gods" like Baal and the golden calf, I guess this gives people an invitation to bow down to a statue of Satan.  What a scary thought!  All I can do is continue to pray for an end to such religious mockery.  Pray for a conversion of hearts to God almighty.  We need to keep Satan away from our children, our churches, and our public places.  

We need to be possessed by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Seek out the Spirit to assist us in times of temptation, especially temptation that is the result of the Devil's play.  Right now the Devil thinks he has it made with a concrete slab potentially being carved in his honor.  He's only kidding himself!  Christianity will continue to flourish despite attempts to make fun of it, ridicule it, or pass it off as something no longer fashionable.  The Ten Commandments will continue to be the Christian's moral standard even if eventually all of the concrete representations are stripped away from our public places.  Atheists and Satanists alike can keep up with their foolish and ignorant plights, but in the long run they will not stand a chance against Our Lord.  

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.  Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.  May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

-J.