Gospel Thoughts
18th
Week: Saturday
GOSPEL Matthew - 17: 14 – 20
Sin/Devil puts us into Shame and destroys our life
1) Demon makes the boy to suffer severely
The demon that had entered into the life of the boy makes him to suffer severely.
Demon makes him to fall in the fire
- Fire is dangerous. One cannot play with fire. Fire burns and destroys anything that falls into it
- Falling into the fire will burn the person. So the intention of the demon is to make the boy to suffer and finally to destroy.
Demon makes him to fall in the Water
- Once again, water can be dangerous for one’s life.
- Those who fall into the water lose their life if they do not know how to swim
- Many have lost their lives after falling into the water
- Once again, the intention of the demon is very clear, that is to destroy the boy.
- Ultimately, demon only makes one to suffer and to die miserably
- The so-called demon, which attacked boy in today’s context, can be understood as the power of sin
- Sin is the new name for the demon, which makes the people to fall into the fire and water
- The modern demon has become so powerful, at times people find very had to say "no" to this demon. So one needs to be very careful and vigilant about this demon
3) Modern form of Water and Fire, which are used by the demo
- Water and fire two important instruments, which were used by the demon to destroy the boy.
- In our context the water and fire represents the following
- The fire and water of media
- The fire and water of power, selfishness, greed, pleasure, anger, revenge, hatred, self glory, attachment to worldly things, desire for pomp and glory. All these are modern form of water/fire which are used by the modern demon so called the sin
4) Once fallen into the water or fire not easy to come out
- Once the fire catches the body it is very difficult to control it. It spreads to the entire body and it becomes very dangerous to the person
- Likewise once fallen into the water, survival is very difficult. The water does not allow us easily to come out from it
- Likewise once caught in modern water or fire it is very difficult to come out. So we need to be watchful and careful
5) Only prayer and Deep faith will be able to control this demon
- The disciples of Jesus could not control and cast out the demon, and the reason, which is given in the Gospel, is that their spirit of prayer and faith was very week. So they could not cast out that demon
- Jesus says that “Because of their little faith" they could not drive out that demon
- In other words with faith and power of prayer we can drive out such demons
6) Am I free from the control of demon
- What types of demons are controlling my life?
- Am I affected by any of above-mentioned demons?
- Which are the waters and fire, in which very often I fall?
- What can I do to safeguard myself from this demons and falling into waters and fire?
Fr Maxim D’Souza
Jeppu Seminary
Mangalore
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