22nd Week in Ordinary Time 2021 - Tuesday - Release from demonic captivity

 “Have you come to destroy us?” the demon asked.  Had Jesus come to destroy Satan and Satan’s kingdom?  Absolutely!  So Jesus commanded the demon to come out of the man it had been possessing, and it did. 

In Yesterday’s Gospel, standing in the synagogue of Nazareth, Jesus claimed that he had come to bring release to the captives. Who are the captives? Us! Those held captive by the powers of sin and death and immorality and the devil—powers which keep us from living in the freedom God designed for his children.

The kingdom of Satan is set up to enslave and to damn. Jesus enters into history, engages in his ministry culminating in his passion, death, and resurrection, to free and to save.

So throughout the Gospel of Luke, we see Jesus freeing people—freeing people from the powers that bind humanity: from hunger, disease, blindness, deafness, muteness, paralysis, fear and cowardice, pride, moral and theological error, from literal demons, and ultimately from death. 

When we encounter Jesus and place our faith in Him and walk in the light of his truth, we gain freedom. Sadly, we see so much of humanity still captive and captivated by the powers of Satan. And we know, too, that through our own personal sins, we have fallen again and again back into captivity. 

Which is why we continue to seek freedom from our own captivities through the cultivation of virtue, the reception of the Sacraments, and works of charity, and why we generously share the Gospel of freedom with others. 

Notice too how the unclean spirit afflicted this religious gathering, in the synagogue. So, too, the devil loves to cause trouble within the Church. It is a great victory for him, when he can cause sin and division within the church, in the church hierarchy, among priests, on the diocesan level, in parishes, and small groups in parishes, and families. And so at every level of the Church, we should pray for deliverance and protection from the works of darkness, we should invoke Our Lady, St. Joseph terror of demons, St. Michael, and intentionally work to fortify ourselves against Satan’s powers, that at every level of the Church we make know that freedom the comes from heaven, that we may be faithful to the mission given to us by Christ, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all members of the Church, laity and clergy will be effective instruments for driving out demons and reclaiming souls for Christ.

For an end to indifference to God and human dignity in our government and educational institutions, businesses, and personal attitudes.

For resolution to the atrocities in Afghanistan, for the safety of our military and innocent bystanders, for captive Christians, and for an end to all terrorism.

For victims of extreme and inclement weather and those experiencing any kind of hardship or sorrow, isolation, addiction, or disease: may they know God’s deliverance, strength and peace 

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased priests and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom. We pray.

O God, who know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.