His Holiness Pope Francis celebrated Mass at the Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican, saying that when the devil cannot destroy head on with vices, wars or injustices, he does so subtly with guiles, gradually leading people into the spirit of the world, making them feel nothing is wrong. The Pontiff was sharing his reflection on the day’s Gospel reading where Jesus drives out a demon who returns with other more wicked spirits to take possession of his old home.
As reported by Vatican news, The Pontiff remarked that “When the devil takes possession of a person’s heart, he makes it his home not wanting to leave, and tries to ruin the person and harm him even physically. The struggle between good and evil in us human beings is the true struggle between the first struggle between God and the ancient serpent, between Jesus and the devil.” Acting like a polite person the demon goes about to find a weak point and knocks at the door, saying, “Excuse me? May I come in?” and rings the bell. The Pope said these demons are worse than the first ones, because you don’t realize they are at home. They are the worldly spirit, the spirit of the world. Holy Father Pope Francis thus urged Christians to watch out against falling “into this spiritual mediocrity, into this spirit of the world”, which “corrupts us from within”. The Pope said he is more afraid of these demons than the first.
Pope Francis concluded his remarks by urging Christians to be vigilant and calm with these polite demons who want to enter the house as wedding guests.
