First Reading: (1 Corinthians 2:10b–16)
Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 145)
R. The Lord is just in all his ways.
Alleluia
Gospel: (Luke 4:31–37)
Reflection:
Today's Gospel tells us that even the evil spirits recognized Jesus. They cried out, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.”
The devils were right. This was exactly who Jesus was. It was a perfect description of Him. Should we not be surprised that the devils knew Him this much? The question is: how come the devils were so accurate in their knowledge of Jesus?
The demons had spiritual knowledge because they are fallen spirits. They knew and recognized Jesus from the spiritual realm long before most people fully understood who he truly was. They knew that Jesus is God. They knew that he has ultimate power over them. They knew that their final destruction and sentence into the abyss were certain.
They knew Jesus long before he was born as a human being. They had been defeated by him before. So they knew him too well. They knew what he could do. They also knew that he would still defeat them.
This is why they asked, “Have you come to destroy us before the time?”
They said:
"Do not destroy us before our time.” In other words: we know you have the power to destroy us, and we know that you will destroy us in the end. No wonder they begged Jesus not to destroy them before the appointed time-the time of their ultimate destruction.
We also understand why Jesus silenced them and prevented them from making him known. Although what they said was true, and although he truly was the Messiah, his revelation was going to unfold gradually and at the proper time so that the people would not misunderstand his messiahship.
The devil is a spiritual entity and, as such, possesses spiritual powers. He is not omniscient like God. The devil does not know everything. He does not know what will happen tomorrow, but God knows. The devil does not know what your next move will be, but God knows. And this is where God surpasses him.
However, as a spiritual being, the devil knows and understands human weaknesses very well. He knows and understands human behavior patterns and tendencies, and he can cleverly use them against human beings. He knows you. He knows whether your weakness is this or that, and he will always tempt you around the weaknesses you have.
Just as he said to Jesus, “I know who you are,” so too he says to us, “I know you. I know who you are.”
“I know you. You are a lover of revenge and anger.” So he tempts you around revenge and anger.
He knows and understands human weaknesses, behavior patterns, and tendencies, and he trickishly uses them against us.
This is the reason St. Paul says that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and spiritual wickedness in high places.
The devil knows much about us. He knows our weaknesses. This explains why he knows how, when, and around what to tempt us.
But the question we must ask ourselves is this: Do we also know as much of the devil as he knows of us?
How do we want to fight a spirit who knows much about us when we seem to know little or nothing about him? We are ignorant about his tricks. We understand very little about how he operates, especially through temptation and deception, yet we want to wrestle against him.
No wonder we so often fall for his temptations.
The first way to defeat an opponent is to know that opponent-their strengths, their weaknesses, their possible attacks, and how to overcome them. We should have knowledge of the devil. We should know what he can do and recognize when he shows up, so that when temptation comes, we can immediately say, “Ah, I know who you are. You are the devil, but I will not fall for it.”
St. Peter tells us to be calm but vigilant because our enemy, the devil, is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. We are called to stand up to him, strong in faith.
When the devil comes with temptation, because he knows us, we should be able to tell him, “Shame on you. We also know you. We know who you are, and we refuse to fall. Get behind me, Satan.”
When temptation comes, identify the devil and tell him immediately, “I know who you are. I know you want to trick me. You want me to fall, but I know who you are. Get behind me, Satan.”
Do you know the devil as much as he knows you? Do you recognize his schemes? Or does he always get you because he knows you, while you have never succeeded in knowing and understanding his tricks and games.
We have to know the devil as much as he knows us. Let us become vigilant. Let us recognize his tricks. Let us identify the areas of our lives through which we are most easily tempted. And when he comes, let us stand up to him, strong in faith.
Let us say: “I know who you are. I know what you are trying to do. I know you want me to fall, but I will not fall for your deception. Get behind me, Satan.”
May we stand firm in faith and overcome him whenever he brings his temptations.
Amen.
