The Sign of Evil

Gospel: Luke 11: 14-23

Jesus heals a man by freeing him from a demon, from whatever possessed him and kept him in bondage.  People then say that this action is from the devil, not from God.  Then, these same people demand a sign from Jesus.  But he has already given them the definitive sign of God's work in the world: to liberate people from the work of the devil, from whatever possesses them and keeps them in bondage and apart from God.  

To suggest that this action comes from the devil is the ultimate evil.  To demand any other sign is an indication that we ourselves are the ones possessed by the evil one - possessed by our own egos and self interest, possessed by pleasures and ephemera, possessed by the lure of wealth, power, and worldly influence.  All these things were presented to Jesus by the devil; all of them were rejected by Jesus.  

Lent is our time in the desert to definitively struggle with evil and reject it as Jesus did.  Lent leads us to the great Triduum where we will be asked if we reject Satan and all his works, reject sin so as to live in the freedom of the children of God.  This is our time to be rid of the demons that possess and tempt us, to seek no other sign than God's work of liberation in the world.