When an unclean spirit goes out of a person it roams through arid regions searching for rest but finds none. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my home from which I came.’ But upon returning, it finds it empty, swept clean, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and brings back with itself seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they move in and dwell there; and the last condition of that person is worse than the first. Thus it will be with this evil generation.
Jesus was a healer of physical and mental illnesses and an exorcist. The evil spirits that he cast out knew who he was, but the Jews rejected him (Jn. 7:1; Mt. 21:42). Jesus warned the Scribes and Pharisees that the condition of a person who was cleansed of evil spirits was not necessarily permanent. If a person from whom an evil spirit was expelled does not start a new life in Christ filled with faith hope, and love, the person can end up spiritually worse off than before. Jesus then applied the same warning to the current evil and unfaithful generation seeking a sign (Mt. 12:39). They rejected his attempts to free the house of Israel from Satan’s rule and they could end up in a worse spiritual condition.
Almighty God, through
the waters of Baptism we became your adopted sons and daughters. Give us the strength to turn away from sin
and to remain steadfast in our love for you.
This we pray through Christ our Lord.
Amen!
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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