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Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over
all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the
Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. Luke 9:1–2
This is the first time that Jesus sends His Apostles out on a
mission. On this mission, He is preparing them for their ultimate
mission, which will come at the time of Pentecost, after Jesus
dies, rises and ascends to Heaven. But for now, Jesus commissions
these Apostles to do three things: to cast out demons, heal the
sick and proclaim the Kingdom of God.
Just like the Apostles, we are called to combat the devil and his
demons. They are fallen angels who retain their natural powers, and
they use those natural powers to try to deceive us, oppress us and,
in some cases, even possess us. But demons are powerless in the
face of God, and God gives us spiritual authority over them. And
though there are some who are given the unique ministry of exorcism
within the Church, all of us do have spiritual authority over
demons, especially over their natural spiritual attacks of
temptations.
We combat demons primarily by revealing their lies and bringing
them to light. Saint Ignatius of Loyola, in his spiritual classic
The Spiritual Exercises, explains to us some of the ordinary
tactics these demons use and how we overcome them. He says that for
those steeped in a life of serious sin, the demons continually
place before their mind the lie that their sins are enjoyable and
rewarding, so that they will continue to choose them. And for those
who are striving for holiness, these demons try to discourage them
in their deepening conversion. They “bite, sadden and put
obstacles, disquieting with false reasons, that one may not go on”
(Rule 2). The way to overcome these temptations is by turning to
the truth. First, by realizing that the false “pleasures” of sin
are just that: false, fleeting and ultimately demeaning.
Furthermore, we overcome these temptations by receiving from God
“courage and strength, consolations, tears, inspirations and quiet,
easing, and putting away all obstacles.” In other words, we
overcome the demons by allowing God to strengthen us, clear our
thinking, dispel all false obstacles on the road to holiness and by
receiving the abundant consolations that God bestows as help on the
journey.
Reflect, today, upon the fact that our Lord wants to minister to
you in this threefold way. If you can work to overcome the
obstacles put in your path by these demons, then you are in a good
position to share in the other two missions given to the Apostles.
You will be able to experience mental, emotional and spiritual
healing in your life, and you will be able to allow the Kingdom of
God to grow strong and powerful within your own soul. From there,
you will be sent on a mission by our Lord to bring these graces to
others in need.
My all-powerful Lord, You have authority over evil, the power to
heal and offer all the gifts of eternal salvation. Help me to be
open to the ways that You desire to come to me. Please free me from
the attacks of the evil one, bring healing and hope, and bring
forth the abundance of Your glorious Kingdom in my life. Jesus, I
trust in You.
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Featured image above: A an etching by Jan Luyken from
the Phillip Medhurst Collection of Bible illustrations housed at
Belgrave Hall, Leicester, England, photo by Philip De Vere,
Wikimedia Commons
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