40. Devilish Talk (Mt: 12:22-37)

“You do not yet see God, but by loving your neighbor you gain the sight of God; by loving your neighbor you purify your eye for seeing God…”

- St Augustine

Matthew 12:22-37

Then they brought to him a blind and dumb demoniac; and he cured him, so that the dumb man could speak and see. All the people were astounded and said, ‘Can this be the Son of David?’ But when the Pharisees heard this they said, ‘The man casts out devils only through Beelzebul, the prince of devils’. Knowing what was in their minds he said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is heading for ruin; and no town, no household divided against itself can stand. Now if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; so how can his kingdom stand? And if it is through Beelzebul that I cast out devils, through whom do your own experts cast them out? Let them be your judges, then. But if it is through the Spirit of God that I cast devils out, then know that the kingdom of God has overtaken you. Or again, how can anyone make his way into a strong man’s house and burgle his property unless he has tied up the strong man first? Only then can he burgle his house. He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. And so I tell you, every one of men’s sins and blasphemies will be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And anyone who says a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but let anyone speak against the Holy Spirit and he will not be forgiven either in this world or in the next.

‘Make a tree sound and its fruit will be sound; make a tree rotten and its fruit will be rotten. For the tree can be told by its fruit. Brood of vipers, how can your speech be good when you are evil? For a man’s words flow out of what fills his heart. A good man draws good things from his store of goodness; a bad man draws bad things from his store of badness. So I tell you this, that for every unfounded word men utter they will answer on Judgement day, since it is by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words condemned.’

Christ the Lord

Many modern scholars have questioned the existence of the devil. Jesus never did. The devil exists. In fact, it is to “destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8) that Jesus came among us. And destroy them he does. With a mere command (in contrast to the elaborate rituals used by ancient magicians and Jewish exorcists) Christ sets countless souls free from their satanic slavery. In the face of Jesus’ divine prerogative, the “strong man” who had bound God’s children and taken over God’s house is rendered completely powerless.

Christ’s mastery over these evil forces astounds the crowd, but it infuriates his jealous rivals. In fact, their absurd accusation that Jesus is a common magician in league with the very devils he casts out rebounds on their own heads. They are the ones who have taken Satan’s part, by closing their hearts to the Lord. History really is a battle between good and evil, and much to the consternation of sophisticated academics and modern Pharisees, good wins out in the end.

This battle is won or lost in the depths of each of our hearts. When we conquer our temptations and inclinations to sin, we are conquering more of the world for Christ. To whom does your heart pay allegiance?

Christ the Teacher

Here Jesus exposes the true nature of every sin: worship of self. The Pharisees have become so self-centered, so confident in their own understanding, so attached to getting their own way, that they identify as evil whatever contradicts their desires.

Jesus invites them to leave their comfortable and self-glorifying ways behind, repent, and enter the Kingdom of heaven. They react furiously; since Jesus doesn’t accept their ideas and acknowledge their superiority, he must be an agent of the devil. Here we get a glimpse of the terrifying perversion worked by sin: placing myself on God’s throne, I mistake God himself (Jesus) as Satan’s accomplice. Sin (a love of self to the point of despising God) has grown to full maturity in the hearts of these Pharisees. No longer can they be forgiven, because they can no longer even recognize their need for forgiveness in the first place. Whenever we choose our own will in opposition to God’s will, we are taking a step down the Pharisee’s calamitous path.

Christ the Friend

The worst damage a friend can do to a friend is often done with spiteful words. Gossip, lies, backbiting, criticism – they wound more deeply than swords and bullets. in fact, they give rise to violence and war. They destroy families, friendships, communities, and nations. On the other hand, words of encouragement, praise, forgiveness, and truth (or sometimes simply keeping quiet) open hearts, spread hope, comfort the troubled, and reconcile even bitter and enduring enemies.

No one knew the power of words better than Jesus, the Word of God. In this passage he even seems to reduce the material by which we will be judged to words alone, because our words are the product of our hearts, and it is in our hearts that we decide for Christ or against him. Jesus wants to give us an undistorted glimpse into our own hearts. We may not like what we see, but we need to see it if we are going to grow in friendship with Christ. What do your words tell you about your heart?

Christ in My Life

The sacrament of confession is the surest weapon against the tragic and subtle growth of diabolical pride. Frequent confession assures me I am not worshipping myself, since I’m asking for your forgiveness. It keeps open the flow of your grace in me and through me. Thank you for this gift, Lord! Why do I not profit more from it? Why do I not promote it more? Jesus, never let me be separated from you. Grant saintly priests to the world, to bring us your presence and love…

I want to say with my life as well as my words, “Thy will be done.” Do I ponder your will for my life? Do I seek your will concerning my normal responsibilities, my vocation, my commitments, the Church’s teachings, and my conscience? Mary, teach me always to say with you, “Let it be done unto me according to your word…”

You will judge me by my words. Teach me to use them only to build up my neighbors and never, in any circumstances, to tear them down. Give me goodness of heart that overflows in everything I say…

Yours in Christ, Father John Bartunek, LC

Share this post :