Satan Loves This
If you follow the historic lectionary, you would have just heard Luke 11 read for Oculi Sunday. A portion of the text is below:
Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first” (Luke 11:14-26).
It’s hard to avoid talk of COVID-19 these days. (I hear I picked a fine time to leave social media!) There is much unknown and as a result, much chaos abounds. Schools are shut down. Businesses and restaurants are closing. There is no toilet paper or hand sanitizer! There are no sports! (Perhaps our idols are being revealed.) We’re told to stay at least six feet away from each other and to avoid being in groups of more than fifty. As a result of this, many churches have decided to cancel services or people have simply decided to self-quarantine.
Be warned, though. Satan loves this. He loves when God’s people are scattered. United, we hear God’s Word and receive His holy Sacrament. Scattered, we are susceptible to being picked off one by one by the roaring lion that prowls. The devil will continue to spread seeds of fear and anxiety to do everything in his power to keep you away from the precious gifts of God. He will sow seeds of contentment or being at home and “watching church on the Internet” which will only further scatter us in the end. During this time, he is tempting us to take refuge in ourselves rather than in God. Right now, as we are becoming more and more scattered, the demons are gathered seeking out those houses swept clean. Beware. Satan loves this.
You might be in an area where gathering together is completely out of the question. And ultimately, we don’t know what is going to come of this virus. Do not cease to daily read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest God’s Word. Do not cease to daily recite the Creed and to pray the Lord’s Prayer, ever clinging to the petition “But deliver us from evil” as you make the sign of the cross.
In the end be fully assured that God will deliver us from this evil whether by life or by death. The apostle Paul tells the Christians in Rome, “For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's (Romans 14:8). Until that day, stand firm in God’s Word. Take the necessary precautions in order to attend the Divine Service so long as you can. If it is not possible, set up a time when you can come to the church to receive the Sacrament from your pastor. It alone is our sure defense against the coming attacks from the devil. Peace be with all of you.