13th Week in Ord. Time, Wednesday – 2nd July 2025 – Genesis 21,5.8-20; Mt 8,28-34
Existence, Extinction, and Estrangement
Demon possession was understood to be a fact of life in and around Israel and in the ancient world. Nobody questioned the existence of demons. Demons were known to alter personalities and behaviours, as well as causing those oppressed to behave in self-destructive and violent ways. In today’s Gospel, the demons have recognized Jesus and have raised two questions against him. Jesus’ encounter with demons and its questioning of Jesus reveals many things. First, the demons called Jesus, the Son of God. Demons are fallen angels, those who joined Satan in his rebellion against God. Jesus, as God’s eternal Son, would have known these things since they were first created as angels. Therefore, they recognized Jesus as one with power and authority over all things. They questioned him to confirm Jesus’ identity as being God’s Son. Second, the demons recognized that Jesus will ultimately bring judgement on them in the form of torment. They understood Jesus to be the judge and the enforcer of the judgment. They knew they would be found guilty and tormented. Third, the demons knew that the time had not yet come for their final judgment. Since they did not understand the purpose of Jesus’ mission on earth at this moment, they revolved against him. Finally, it is Jesus, who will win over demons and all types of evil spirits. In today’s context, disbelief in the spiritual world is a more potent weapon and deliberate strategy used by the demons to estrange human beings from God.
