Devil does not allow us to stand straight and glorify God

Gospel Thoughts

30th Week : Monday

GOSPEL Lk 13:10-17

First Reading - Eph 4:32–5:8

*Devil does not allow us to stand straight and glorify God*

*She was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect*

*1) Standing Straight is a sign of independence and Liberty*

A person who is able to stand straight means he is independent and is able to feel the liberty in his life

Standing straight is also a sign of courage. A person who is courageous is able to stand straight 

Standing straight is also a sign of boldness. He is able to challenge and face anything in his life.

Standing straight also helps a person to have better vision of the reality and he is able to judge in a better way what is wrong and what right 

Standing straight is also gesture of encouragement to some one. If some one who is besides us is able to stand straight means we get a special encouragement from that person

*2) The person was bent over  Completely for 18 years*

The person who appears in the Gospel is bent over for 18 year and the reason given for this condition is the power of Satan 

It was not a simple bent that the person had, but a complete bent which made the person unable to stand 

Without standing straight one can't perform the normal duties of daily life. So it is a abnormal condition which makes the person to suffer 

Even the duration we need to take into account. Rather it was long period - 18 years. So we can also see the gravity of the problem. 

*3) Bending position reduces the Human being into animal*

Usually in completely bent position we see the animals and other creatures. 

It is a position which exactly suits the life of animals

In other words Satan practically reduces the Human being into an animal. 

Animals do not exercise reason, morality and they are equal to slaves 

So under the influence of Satan one loses the reason and lives like a salve. 

 

*4) Sin is equal to Satan*

In our context it is the Sin which plays the role of Satan 

The Satan which made the person to completely to bend and to suffer, the sin in our life makes us to bend completely and suffer terribly in our life. 

We are not able to stand straight to our moral life, spiritual life and other areas of life, which are necessary to live a good and holy life. 

*5) The cure of Jesus made the person to stand straight*

The Gospel is very clear that after Jesus casts out the Satan from the person, she is able to stand straight. 

So it is very clear that the Satan was controlling the person 

It is also clear that only Jesus can help us in this struggle of getting liberty from the Satan and stand straight 

*6) Praising God - is the first gesture of the liberated person*

When the person is able to stand straight, because of Jesus, the first gesture of the person was praising God. 

Since she was free from the influence of Satan she was able to praise God.

It is also clear as long as we are under the influence of Satan/sin we are unable to stand straight and praise God. 

*7) God makes us to stand straight but Satan makes us to bend completely*

This is very clear from the life of that woman 

As long as Satan was there she could not stand straight. But Jesus made her to stand straight

Standing straight is a symbol of liberty, freedom, courage, and confidence. God makes us to exercise these great qualities in our life. 

Satan makes us to bend, which is a sign of slavery, humiliation, fear, suffering, and desperation. Ultimately Satan/Sin leads us to these. So we need to be careful

*8) Am I able to stand straight or completely bent or little bent?*

What is my position. Am I able to stand straight or bent completely? 

We need to think this seriously in our lives. We need to stand straight with the Lord

*9) The possible Satan which makes us to bend little of full*

For some money makes to bend completely

For others power and position makes to bend completely and the are under the slavery of this 

Still Others bend their life completely to pleasures of the world, worldly things, money, wealth, jealousy, division, revenge, name, hypocrisy, duplicity, falsehood, injustice, cheating, stealing, gossip, misguiding others, selfish interests and so on 

If so which Satan is controlling me to bend completely in my life. 

Am I able to stand straight or I simply allow myself to bend completely and surrender to these evil things

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*