Have you come to destroy us? - Did I have such feelings in my Life?

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season: Twenty Second Week : Tuesday*

*Gospel : Lk 4:31-37*

*First Reading : 1 Cor 2:10b-16*

*Responsorial Psalm : Ps. 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13ab, 13cd-14*

*Have you come to destroy us? - Did I have such feelings in my Life?*

*1) Have you come to destroy us?*

This is one of the important questions which we find in today's Gospel

This was the question asked by the unclean demon

This question was thrown at Jesus, which also reveals the power of Jesus 

This unclean demon had taken the possession of life of a man 

*2) The Encounter between Jesus and the Unclean Demon*

The unclean demon was face by Jesus 

As soon as the unclean demon sees Jesus, it knew what Jesus would do and also the power of Jesus 

Since it is only Jesus can destroy the unclean demon, the unclean demon immediately asks this question

The encounter ends with casting out the demon and freeing the man from the clutches of the unclean demon 

*3) Have you come to destroy us - in our life*

At times we also speak this language in our life 

When we are faced with tough situations of our life especially when one stuffers from terrible incurable disease, the person asks *have you come to destroy us?*

When a family witness series of serious problems, some times they ask *Have you come to destroy us?*

When there is a serious financial problem, family problem, relationship problem, one often asks *Have you come to destroy us?*

Here one thing we must note carefully. 

First of all the above mentioned problems are very common to our life. We can't easily get rid of these problems 

But then we must be very careful, not to give these situations as the opportunity to the Satan to ask *Have you come to destroy us?*

There is a hidden danger in these problems, to find fault with God, and to ask  *O God, have you sent these problems to destroy us?* 

If such things happens in our life, it clear that it is not we who are speaking, but the Satan is speaking through us

*4) Life destroying things*

There are several life destroying things in the present day world? 

First of all the demon is the life destroying power found in the man 

But the same demon twists the fact and trying to show that Jesus is the destroyer of the person 

This is very dangerous. To this category there are many things which can be listed 

Drugs

Drinks

Addictions of several kinds 

Sensual pleasure

Greed for things

These are equal to the unclean spirit, which give impression that, Jesus is the destroyer, but in fact these things in themselves are the destroyers of our life

*5) What is taking control of my life?*

In the gospel it is very clear that the unclean demon took the control of the man, who disabled the person from doing what is right 

What about my life? What are the things that control my life? 

Sometimes it may be greed, power, authority, position, wealth, status, ego, revenge and other things as well 

These things paralyse our moral faculty and we are not able to judge what is good and what is evil 

Such a situation make us mute, the power of that mind and heart and we become the slaves of the unclean demon 

So, how about my life?, what is controlling my life?

Which unclean demon is taking control of my life? 

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*