Reflection on Today’s Gospel – Lk 10:17-24
Let us dwell on this one sentence of the Lord Jesus: " I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky ".
Well, ascending to the stars is a biblical metaphor for the pride of a creature who tries to pretend to be equal to God.
For example, in the Book of Isaiah (14) there is a satire against the ruler of Tire: " In your heart you said: I will scale the heavens; Above the stars of God I will set up my throne; I will take my seat on the Mount of Assembly, on the heights of Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will be like the Most High. " How you have fallen from the heavens, O Morning Star, son of the dawn! How you have been cut down to the earth, you who conquered nations!”
No wonder that this satire against the king of Tire is often interpreted as a description of the fall of Lucifer.
Unfortunately, Satan still has a lot to say in our earth. He still acts brazenly as if he is a god. Just remember what happened in our twentieth century - both totalitarianisms that fought entire nations, plans to murder entire nations - Jews, Gypsies, genocide in Cambodia, what is happening in Syria, multi-millionth genocide through abortion, embracing whole millions of people doubt what is different between right and wrong. We could talk about it and talk about it. And one could fall into despair.
Yet freeing from Satan's power is very simple. If he is strong even now - after Christ's passion and resurrection - it is only because of our folly. It is only because by our disobedience to God and to the moral law we join his followers and give him strength.
Only one God is strong in himself. All other rulers - good and bad - are only strong with the support of their followers. Satan, too, will fall shamefully and defeat humiliated if we stop supporting him with our own rebellion against God.
And let us not say that it takes millions of people to convert. Of course, God would grant millions of people to convert. But even if you are the only one who really turns to True God, then at least there will be no more Satan in your sky, because he will fall like the lightning. And - as the Lord Jesus said in today's Gospel - you will have the power to tread upon serpents and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you.
Until Tomorrow
fr. george