During the celebration of the Eucharist, there are certain parts that we stand.
One of which is when the gospel is proclaimed. We stand because whenever the gospel is proclaim, Christ is present and hence we stand in reverence and attention.
Having said that about the presence of Christ at that instance and also throughout the Mass, can we nonchalantly say that where Christ is present, the devil is absent?
We might want to presume so, but is it really so?
We heard in the gospel that when Jesus spoke, He spoke with authority and indeed so. He is the Word made flesh; when He spoke, it was God who spoke.
Yet even as He was speaking and teaching in the synagogue, there was a man present who was possessed by an unclean spirit and it shouted at Jesus.
So in church, and when the Eucharist is celebrated, as much as Christ is present, is there any presence of unclean spirits?
St. Augustine remarked that “faith is mighty, but without love it profits nothing. The unclean spirits confessed Christ, but lacking charity it availed nothing. They said, 'What do you want with us? Have you come to destroy us?' They confessed a sort of faith, but without love. Hence they were devils.” Faith is powerful, but without love it profits nothing.
Now we may not be possessed by unclean spirits, but let us also remember that where there is sin, evil is also present.
Jesus wants to drive out and destroy these sins and presence of evil in us.
Let us with faith and love pledge our obedience to Jesus, the Lord and Master of our lives.