Gospel: Luke 4:31-37
Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the
Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!” Then
the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing
him any harm.
They were all
amazed and said to one another, “What is there about his word? For with
authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” And
news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.
There,
I saw a man with frightening eyes being held by several men. When he was asked
who he was, he answered in a terrifying voice that he was the devil.
Afterwards, someone arrived—I do not know whether it was a priest or a
pastor—and offered a very powerful prayer. He then sprinkled holy water on the
man while invoking the name of Jesus. As this was being done, the man violently
resisted and shouted until, eventually, he calmed down and soon passed out.
In
our Gospel, we read about Jesus driving a demon out of a possessed man. After
Jesus drove out the demon, the people were amazed and said, “What is there
about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits,
and they come out” (Luke 4:36).
The
people marveled because they did not yet fully understand who Jesus was or
where His authority and power came from. But we are blessed because we have
come to know Jesus. Through the gift of faith, we have come to recognize that
His authority comes from God and that His power is greater than anything that
seeks to lead us away from Him.
This
is why we must never take our faith for granted. Knowing Jesus is not simply
about knowing His name or hearing His words; it is about allowing His presence
to transform our lives. Let us therefore deepen our relationship with Him by
regularly reflecting on His powerful words in the Bible, nurturing a life of
prayer, receiving the Sacraments faithfully, and participating wholeheartedly
in the Holy Mass.
The
closer we draw to Jesus, the more firmly rooted we become in His grace. We may
still encounter temptations, struggles, fears, and moments of weakness, but we
do not have to face them alone. We can always turn to Jesus. When darkness
tries to enter our hearts, let us allow His light to shine more brightly within
us. When temptation comes, let us not entertain it or give it room to grow. Let
us immediately call upon the mighty name of Jesus, pray for His grace, and turn
away from whatever may lead us into sin.
The
devil is real, and temptation can come to us in many forms. It can appear
through anger, hatred, pride, greed, envy, lust, selfishness, discouragement,
resentment, or anything else that gradually separates us from God. Sometimes
evil does not come to us in a frightening or obvious form. It can quietly enter
our hearts through seemingly small compromises, until we slowly become distant
from God.
Therefore,
let us remain spiritually vigilant. Let us guard our hearts, strengthen our
faith, and remain close to Jesus. Let us remember that our greatest protection
is not our own strength but God's grace working within us. We do not overcome
evil by our strength alone; we overcome by remaining united with Christ and
allowing His grace to lead us.
May
we never forget the power of the name of Jesus. May His words guide us, His
grace strengthen us, His Spirit enlighten us, and His love keep us faithful.
And whenever we find ourselves standing at the crossroads between temptation
and obedience, may we have the courage to choose Jesus.
When temptation comes knocking at the door of
our hearts today, will we give it a place in our lives—or will we immediately
turn to Jesus, call upon His mighty name, and choose once again to walk in His
light?—Marino J. Dasmarinas
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