parasitism: Evil has many faces. We see it from the news, sometimes we or someone close to us also experiences it. It is a violent encounter that we hear about when Jesus meets someone who is described as possessing an evil spirit. What became important to me in the face of this text was how Jesus always met people with kindness.
Here too, where he comes face to face with evil. “His kind face radiated resolute love,” I once heard a colleague describe Jesus in the face of darkness and evil. Then it’s about letting yourself be filled with goodness, letting yourself be seen and captured by his gentle gaze. Fill in all of us, including the voids in us, which may also contain some darkness. How does that happen then? There is something in service that not many can miss. Some of the last things the priest says at the service.
May God bless you and protect you.
May the Lord shine his face on you and have mercy on you.
May the Lord look upon you and give you peace.
All the best and happy Sunday.
Once Jesus cast out an evil spirit that was stupid. When the evil spirit came out, the mute began to speak, and the people were amazed. But some of them said: “Through Beelzebub, the prince of evil spirits, he expels evil spirits.” Others wanted to test him and demanded a sign from heaven. But Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is broken down, and house falls upon house. Now if Satan comes into conflict with himself, how can his kingdom stand? You say that in Beelzebub I exorcise evil spirits. But if he Beelzebub, I cast out evil spirits, so who can cast them out of your people? Therefore they will judge you yourself. But if I cast out evil spirits with the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.
When a strong man with arms in hand guards his farm, let what he possesses be in peace. But if a stronger one comes and overpowers him, he takes from the strong all the weapons in which he puts his trust, and distributes the spoils. He who is not with me is against me. And whoever does not meet with me separates.
When an unclean spirit deviates from a person, it wanders through desolate spaces looking for a place to rest, but without ever finding it. Then he says: “I will return to my home, which I left.” When he gets there, he finds the house overrun and decorated. Then he departs and brings with him seven other spirits, worse than himself, who move on and settle there. And the latter will be worse for this man than the first.”
As he said this, a woman from among the crowd cried out to him: “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nurtured you.” And Jesus answered: “But rather say: Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.”
Lars Tore Anda,
Parish priest in the diocese of Avaldsen
“Explorer. Unapologetic entrepreneur. Alcohol fanatic. Certified writer. Wannabe tv evangelist. Twitter fanatic. Student. Web scholar. Travel buff.”
