Jesus and Beelzebub Matthew 12 : 22-23
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
We have today, a dramatic encounter of Jesus and the Pharisees after our Lord delivered a soul from demonic possession. So powerful is the presence of Christ that one word from him drives out the devil. It is interesting to see how even the Pharisees tried to perform exorcisms. We also know that many ancient people tried to do similar things in their struggle against evil.
Here, I wish to mention something that is part of the cultural landscape of the Mediterrenean: the artifact that to circulates here in Cyprus, the evil eye, known as the “mati” or “Nazar Boncuğu” in Turkish. It is a pre-Christain talisman, or an amulet that is worn or displayed to ‘ward off negative energy’ of envy or evil. Before the time of Christ, evil was believed to have a limitless power. Our poor ancestors thought that they could fall victim to curses and evil wishes made by their enemies. Now, with the coming of Christ, we know that God is a Father, “for all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God” (Romans 8:14). Safe in the knowledge of God’s love, we are full of confidence and peace. What we call misfortune or suffering is permitted by God because He knows us best, and like a good doctor, he prescribes the medicine that will be best for our eternal happiness. While the ‘mati’ is a pretty thing to display, and harmless as a piece of jewelry, please do not imagine that it can ward off suffering or evil. To put any faith in it would be superstitious and a sin against the gift of faith. “Superstition in some sense represents a perverse excess of religion.” CCC #2110
The power of Christ and the grace he gives us in the Sacraments humiliates the demons and destroys their power. Scripture does not tell us how a soul can become possessed by a demon or demons. It is silent about the mechanics of how such a terrible thing occurs. The Gospels do however tell us that the demons are powerless before Jesus Christ and those to whom He has vested with authority over them. God allows this incredible overreach of evil to display His supreme authority, and his infinite power compared to the limited and temporal power of evil.
Always remember that God wins in the end, that evil always looses, and nothing happens in our lives that God our Father cannot bring good out of.
† Selim Sfeir
Maronite Archbishop of Cyprus