Homily for Friday, Week 27 of Ordinary Time

Homily for Friday
Week 27 of Ordinary Time

Oct. 9, 2026
Luke 21: 15-26
Salesian HS, N.R.

Jesus casting the demons out of the Gerasene man
(Sebastian Bourdon)

Jesus’ enemies accuse him of being allied to the Devil.  They say that’s why he can drive demons out of possessed people.  He points out how absurd their accusation is.  Satan would only be weakening his own power if he attacked his friends.

Rather, when Jesus overcomes a demon, it’s evidence that God is more powerful.  Jesus’ entire life demonstrates God’s power, including the power to forgive our sins and save us from Satan’s grip.

When we commit ourselves to Jesus, we’re on the way toward eternal salvation.  But the Devil remains a threat.  He always wants to return and snare us.  Jesus warns about that:  A demon that’s been rejected “goes and brings back 7 other spirits more wicked than himself who move in and dwell” in the heart of a person who’s half-hearted about the Lord.  That’s the danger, that a good person may relapse into evil.

As followers of the Lord Jesus, we’re never done, no matter how old we are or how long we’ve been his disciple.  We have to renew our commitment to him every day so that we’ll be faithful to him and not turn back to the Devil—to lying, cheating, stealing, impurity, disrespect to parents, the abuse of other people, being lazy about our responsibilities.

So we need to pray every day, regularly read the Scriptures devoutly, especially the Gospels, and go to church on Sunday.  We want to belong to Jesus every day, and not give the Devil the least bit of ourselves.