古代的人，對於不能解釋的疾病，多用「附魔」來解釋。今天科學昌明，感謝生物學家，心理學家和醫生們的努力，很多疾病已經可以追溯到病茵、病毒等物體所做成，很多精神病可以用童年的陰影來解釋。醫學的進步，把附魔的應用範圍，越來越縮窄。不過，人類仍未能夠完全否定邪魔的存在。
耶穌基督來為人驅魔，把受害人從邪魔的手出解放出來，本來是一樁美事。為甚麼竟然會有人譭謗他：「他是仗賴魔王貝耳則步驅魔」（路11:15），甚至想否定耶穌基督的使命而挑戰他，要求一個自天而來的徵兆（11:16）呢？這都是不服氣，不認輸的表現。
這種態度固然是缺乏謙遜的表現，但都是根源於人的本性。當初天主創造人的時候，作出一個很大的冒險，就是給予人類自由意志。天主是自由的，按祂的肖像所創造的人，怎能沒有自由呢？人於是可以自由地行事，從中肯定自己的存在，肯定自己作為「天主肖像」的價值。但自由是很容易被濫用的，一旦濫用了，便遠離了天主，結果就是罪惡，就是死亡。面對耶穌基督成功地驅魔，本來可以是驚訝讚嘆的，卻換來譭謗和挑戰。換了是現代人，更加會懷疑整件驅魔事件的真實性，因為在他們的心目中，天主和魔鬼根本不存在。在他們的公式裡，沒有天主和魔鬼的變數！這又是另一種自由的濫用，缺乏謙遜的表現。他們好像忘記了以今天的科學水平，仍然未能排除天主與魔鬼的存在。「如果我是仗賴天主的手指驅魔，那麼，天主的國已來到你們中間了。」（11:20）耶穌基督所說的「如果」，不是對天主和魔鬼的存疑，而是聽眾是否願意謙遜地接受驅魔的事實。耶穌基督尊重他們的自由，他們有自由接受或拒絕。如果他們接受，那麼，天主的國已來到了！
天父啊！不要讓我們陷於濫用自由的誘惑，謙遜地接受並履行祢的旨意。亞孟。
Humility IV (Luke 11:14-23)
Ancient people made use of demonic possession to explain inexplicable diseases. Today, sciences are advanced. Thanks to the efforts of biologists, psychologists and physicians, the causes of many diseases can be traced to microorganisms and viruses. Many mental illnesses can be explained in terms of childhood traumas. Advances in medicines shrink the applicability of demonic possession in explaining anything. However, men still cannot deny the existence of demons.
Jesus Christ came to exorcise, to liberate victims from the bondage of demons. It was supposed to be a good deed. Why did people defame him, saying "By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons" (Luke 11:15)? They even tried to deny the mission of Jesus Christ, challenging him to perform a sign from heaven (11:16). Their actions showed that they refuse to submit and refuse to acknowledge defeat.
This attitude shows a lack of humility. But it is human nature. When God created men, He took a big risk by giving men a free will. God is free. He made men in His own image. How could there be no freedom? Then men are able to act freely to affirm their existence and their value as God's image. However, freedom can easily be abused. Once abused, men drift away from God. The consequence can only be sin and death. Seeing Jesus Christ successfully exorcise could be awe-inspiring and stunning. Instead they defamed and challenged Jesus. If they were modern men, they would even question the authenticity of the whole incidence of exorcism. It is because in the mind of modern men, God and demons do not exist. In their equations, there is no such variable as God and demons. This is another form of abuse of freedom, showing a lack of humility. They seem to have forgotten that sciences at the present level are not able to exclude the existence of God and demons. "But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you." (11:20) The "if" which Jesus says is not a doubt of the existence of God and demons. Rather, it is a question of whether the audience were humble enough to accept the fact of exorcism. Jesus Christ respected their freedom. They were free to accept or reject. If they accepted, then the Kingdom of God had already come!
Heavenly Father! Lead us not into the temptation of freedom abuse. Help us humbly accept and do Your will. Amen.
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