Thursday of the Third Week of Lent
(Lk 11:14-23)
In preparing for war, a nation typically demonizes its enemy. It makes the enemy appear as less than civil, often as downright diabolical. It uses preponderantly negative stories to describe the enemy’s character. Exaggeration will take over reality to make it seem that the enemy is a cancer that must be extricated immediately. In Iraq five years ago the U.S. Government emphasized Saddam Hussein’s use of chemical weapons in the war against Iran during the 1980s. In World War I, the German invaders were first depicted as killing the French and Belgian civilians. Within days, however, they were pictured as chopping off children’s hands and lopping women’s breasts. Such demonization is necessary to move a nation to war. Little short of eliminating a curse that threatens a people existence will do.
In the gospel some people in the crowd literally demonize Jesus after he exorcizes a demon. They say that he can cast out a demon because he is in league with the prince of demons. The normal response to such a positive action as Jesus’ is gratefulness. After all, he has just given someone a new lease on life. But Jesus’ message accompanying his wondrous deeds involves radical reform. The people must, in Jesus’ words, “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.”
Perhaps many of us, as well, demonstrate such reservation about reforming our lives. After all, it takes prayerful effort to stop thinking impure thoughts, to speak sincerely with perceived adversaries, and to give generously to the needy. We should look closely to see how much God loves us. He has given us life and called us around the table of His son. He will provide for us in death as well, when the taste of Christ’s body and blood that we have now will be transformed into a full banquet of joy.
