Commenting on the Gospel of this fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Francis warned of today's insidiousness of evil, such as addictions, consumerism and the idolatry of power.
News from the Vatican
Before the thousands of believers gathered in St. Peter's Square, the Pope commented on the Gospel for this fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, which tells of Jesus freeing a person possessed by an “evil spirit.”
Listen to the full report in the voice of Pope Francis
That's what the devil does, Francisco explained: he wants to take possession to “imprison our souls.” And we must be aware of the “shackles” that stifle our freedom, because the devil always takes away our ability to choose freely. The Pope then calls some chains that can bind the heart, such as addictions, fads and idolization of power, “a very bad chain.” All these insidious things make us slaves, always dissatisfied, they lead to consumerism and hedonism that turn people into commodities, endanger relationships and even provoke armed conflicts.
Jesus came to free us from all these bonds, with one detail: He never speaks to the devil!
“Jesus frees us from the power of evil, but let us be careful he drives out the devil, but does not dialogue with him. Jesus never spoke to the devil. And when he was tempted in the desert, Jesus' answers were words from the Bible, never dialogue. Brothers and sisters, you can't talk to the devil! Be careful: you can't talk to the devil because if you start talking, he wins. Always. Cautious.”
Call on Jesus!
And when we feel tempted and oppressed, the pope said, we must call on Jesus, call on him where we feel the chains of evil and fear tightening most.
Even today, he explained, the Lord wants to repeat to the evil one: “Go away, leave this heart alone, do not divide the world, families, our communities; Let them live quietly, so that the fruits of my spirit may flourish there, not yours, says Jesus. So that love, joy and gentleness may reign among them, and in place of violence and cries of hatred, freedom and peace, respect and care for all may reign.”
Francisco then asked the believers a few questions: Do I really want to free myself from the shackles that oppress my heart? And then do I know how to say “no” to evil temptations before they creep into my soul? Finally, am I calling on Jesus, allowing Him to work within me and heal me from the inside out?
“May the Blessed Virgin protect us from evil,” was the final invocation.