Thursday of the
Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
(Ephesians 6:10-20; Luke 13:31-35)
An article in The Atlantic magazine a few years
ago challenged the prospect of finding genetic explanations for human
behavior. Since the development of genetic
theory, scientists have hoped to discover genes that govern all human
traits. They have looked for genes that
trigger virtue as there are genes that determine hair color. The article concluded that genes do not work
so neatly. It said that genes almost
always “overlap and interleave” with others to produce different effects. Of course, behaviorists have always questioned
genetic determinism. They believe that upbringing
is a more powerful force shaping behavior than genetic composition. With all
this complexity it might be asked if the Letter to the Ephesians’ assertion
that evil spirits cause one’s difficulty to be good is far-fetched.
The letter stresses that the quest to live morally is not
a simple struggle with natural elements.
Rather it proposes that evil angelic principalities derail moral
progress. It also encourages readers to
use the armaments of the Church to defeat evil powers. Some of these arms are meditation on
Scripture, receiving the sacraments, prayer, and fasting.
We should not underestimate the attraction of evil. Pleasure, power, and false pride tempt the
best of us to put our own wills ahead of God’s.
It is not childish, and much less foolish, to think of our instinctual
drives as being manipulated by evil spirits.
But we should also be aware that the Holy Spirit is available to
us. The Spirit will more than enable us
to repel evil inclinations. It will help
us live as true children of our loving Father.
