In today’s Gospel (Lk 10:17-24), the disciples are astonished when they return to Jesus after having been sent out by him, because they have discovered that, “even the demons are subject to us because of your name” (Lk 10:17). Jesus rejoices as well, because he has seen “Satan falling like lightning from the sky,” and Jesus says this not in direct reference to his own defeat of the evil one (which he accomplishes especially through the paschal mystery), but rather as a joyful response to the successful ministry that he had entrusted to the disciples’ care. “I have given you power… upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you,” Jesus says, adding, “nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven” (Lk 10:19). This last point is key. The Gospel is not about defeating the enemy: that is just a consequence. The Gospel is the revelation of the full reality of God’s love for us, a revelation that calls us into the same childlike relationship with God as the Son has with the Father through the Holy Spirit (Lk 10:21-22).
I will leave you with this question as we conclude this week of reflections: do you truly believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and that even the evil spirits are submitted to the power of his lordship? Today’s Gospel reveals this to you: do you believe it? If it is true that even the evil spirits are submitted to the lordship of Jesus Christ, then if you freely seek to be guided by Jesus as the lord of your life, then there is nothing on the face of this earth that can keep you from living the life that God concretely offers you today for the salvation of the world.