The guards answered, “Never before has anyone spoken like this
man.” So the Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived?
Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But
this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed.” John
7:46–49
Hopefully the Pharisees mentioned above went through a deep
interior conversion before they died. If they did not, then their
day of particular judgment would have been shocking and frightening
to them. The greatest act of love ever known was God becoming one
of us, being conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the
Blessed Virgin Mary, growing up in the household of Saint Joseph,
and eventually beginning His public ministry by which the saving
truth of the Gospel was proclaimed so that all may come to know God
and be saved. And it was of this act of perfect love given to us by
God that the Pharisees attacked and called those who believed in it
“deceived” and “accursed.”
Though the Pharisees do not offer us much by way of inspiration,
they do provide us with many lessons. In the passage above, the
Pharisees model for us one of the most common tactics of the evil
one. In his spiritual classic, The Spiritual Exercises,
Saint Ignatius of Loyola explains that when a person is moving from
a life of sin to a life of holiness, the evil one will attack in
various ways. He will try to unsettle you and cause an undue
anxiety about serving God, he will try to sadden you with an
unexplained sorrow, put obstacles in your way of virtue causing you
to feel overwhelmed and think you are too weak to live a good
Christian life of virtue, and he will tempt you to lose your peace
of heart by doubting God’s love or His action in your life. It
seems clear that this attack by the Pharisees also has these
goals.
Again, though this may not appear “inspiring,” it is very useful to
understand. The Pharisees were vicious in their attacks, not only
to Jesus but also upon anyone who began to believe in Jesus. They
said to the guards who were impressed by Jesus, “Have you also been
deceived?” This was clearly the evil one at work through them
trying to intimidate the guards and anyone who dared believe in
Jesus.
But understanding the tactics of the evil one and his messengers is
of great value, because it helps us reject the lies and deceptions
spewed out at us. Sometimes these lies come from individuals and
are directed directly at us, and sometimes the lies are more
universal, coming through the media, the culture and even the
government, at times.
Reflect, today, upon the distasteful and bitter words of these
Pharisees. But do so to help yourself understand the tactics the
evil one often takes as you seek greater holiness in life. Be
assured that the closer you get to God, the more you will be
attacked. But do not be afraid. Identify any personal, social,
cultural or even governmental attack for what it is. Have
confidence and do not be deterred as you seek to follow Christ more
completely every day.
My divine Judge of all, at the end of time, You will establish
Your permanent Kingdom of truth and justice. You will reign over
all and will bestow Your mercy and justice on all. May I live fully
in Your truth and never be deterred by the attacks and lies of the
evil one. Give me courage and strength, dear Lord, as I always
trust in You. Jesus, I do trust in You.
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Featured images above: Conspiracy of the Jews By James Tissot,
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