Spiritual battle

In today’s Gospel in the first chapter of Mark (1:21-28), the Devil makes his first appearance. One of Satan’s followers has taken possession of a child of God and cries out in panic at Jesus’ approach:

“’What do you want with us Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy one of God’. But Jesus said sharply, ‘Be Quiet! Come out of him!’ And the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and with a loud cry went out of him. The people were so astonished that they started asking each other what it all meant. ‘Here is a teaching that is new’ they said’, with authority behind it: he gives orders even to unclean spirits and they obey him.”

This is what John Bartunek in his book The Better Part says about evil:

“The devil is real, and he is interested in counteracting the work of grace. In one sense, accepting this fundamental truth, and keeping it always in the back of our minds, can comfort us tremendously: it helps us make sense of all the unpleasant influences at work in and around us...we are engaged in a spiritual battle. If we believe in Jesus Christ, we also believe in the devil - doomed as he is, he would love to take as many souls as he can along with him...how many souls are enslaved to sin unknowingly under Satan’s evil spell - confused, depressed, headed for destruction?”

All kinds of leaders

We have pro-life leaders and we have pro-choice leaders.

We have political leaders and we have spiritual leaders.

Some leaders are good leaders. Some leaders are not so good.

Some leaders use hate to lead. Some leaders use love.

Some leaders tell lies. Some leaders tell the truth.

Some leaders let the power of leadership go to their heads. Some leaders are able to resist that power and remain humble.

John Bartunek, in his book The Better Part, says this about leadership:

"The power and esteem that goes with leadership can be intoxicating. It can lead to a reversal of values: instead of using one's influence strictly for the good of others, you begin to care more about simply staying in power. Then the truth — and the true good — inevitably takes a backseat to expediency. And the worst aspect of all is that it's almost irreversible. The Pharisees had completely lost touch with what was right, because they were completely fixated on what was useful to themselves. Every leader, including the leaders of Christ's Church, must be on their guard "against the leaven of the Pharisees," because in the end the truth will come out.

Wise words, don't you think?