Be careful for what you ask for. And be ready – to accept the consequences.
Seems to be a common theme in the world today. Tempting our fate with God, and then having to face the music. The world has been polarized. It is a world of extremes. It seems as if there is no in-between, no discussion, no compromise. Either you are with me, or you are against me.
We’ve asked for this. We’ve glorified our worldly desires and ambitions. We’ve put out passions – political, social, and religious passions before our God.
We have given in to the sin of pride, thinking that we know best, that our way is the way, and that if you don’t agree with me then you are inferior. And this shows up in egotistical and unhinged rants, unnecessary violence, and anger on both sides.
This is exactly what the evil one wants. Man, he must be having a field day right now, watching this world as it is. There is polarization on all fronts. Everyone is divided. People are afraid, and acting irrationally. It seems we are bursting apart at the seams.
The evil one is tempting God right now. He’s saying, ‘Go ahead, step in, and try to make something good out of this mess. My job is almost complete. You’re just going to make it worse.’
‘I’m turning everyone against each other. I’m spreading hate. I’m even turning your church against each other.
Go ahead Jesus, see what you can do with this!’
Be careful Satan, for what you ask for.
In the Gospel today, the demoniacs confront Jesus. They taunt Him and say. ‘what are You going to do? It’s not Your appointed time! Are you just going to torment us? You can’t do anything yet… But if you do drive us out, then send us into that herd of swine.’
They thought that they would live in the herd, ready to torment another day.
And Jesus said ‘Go’. But they did not see the consequences. The herd rushed into the sea and perished. And the demons perished with them as they had no host. They were not careful for what they wished for.
God – brings good – from even the worst of things. Sometimes – often – it requires sacrifice. Sacrifice of things dear and close to us.
We are in a time of sacrifice right now. On all fronts.
Globally. Nationally. In our communities. In our churches. And in our homes.
Evil has penetrated our hearts, both involuntary through this pandemic, but also through our choosing in our words, our actions, or more worrisome – perhaps our lack of words and our lack of action.
But we’ve asked for this, right? We don’t want to be told what to do, right? We want to do what we want. And so, we’ve built this society wear we essentially get to do, whatever we want to do.
But we’ve asked for it, and now, and in the foreseeable future, we will pay the consequences. Many of us, in the desire to do what we want to do, and not what God wants us to do, are going to go along for the ride with that herd – right over the cliff.
But good will come of this. Good already has come of this in certain respects. God is an Amazing God, and He can see in ways and directions that the evil one cannot.
But be careful what you ask for, what you seek in life. Because every action, and every inaction, has a consequence. Let Jesus be your true guide through it all, and you will prosper. For as countless people have said over the years, freedom is not the right to do what you want, but rather freedom is doing what we ought.
In other words, do the right thing.
Seek God’s Will, and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and what you ought to do.
