Who Is Taking Control?

Reflection Date: October 09, 2026 | Friday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Memorial on Saint John Henry Newman, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Memorial of Saint Denis, Bishop and Martyr, and his Companions, Martyrs
Memorial of Saint John Leonardi, Priest
Daily Readings: Galatians 3:7-14; Luke 11:15-26

Children of God:
Peter Binsfeld was a German Catholic bishop and theologian who lived in the sixteenth century and became known for his writings on witchcraft and the classification of demons. 

In 1589, he published a work that associated particular demons with the seven capital vices or deadly sins. His system connected Lucifer with pride, Mammon with greed, Asmodeus with lust, Leviathan with envy, Beelzebub with gluttony, Satan with wrath, and Belphegor with sloth. 

Earlier Christian sources already treated gluttony as one of the capital vices, while the name Beelzebub appeared in the New Testament as a designation associated with the prince of demons. 

The Catholic Encyclopedia explained that Beelzebub was used in the Gospel tradition as another name for Satan and that Jesus’ opponents accused Him of casting out demons by Beelzebub. 

Binsfeld’s classification therefore reflected a particular period in the development of Christian demonological literature. 

His work became part of the history of how Christians in the late Middle Ages and early modern period tried to describe the relationship between temptation, vice, and spiritual evil. 

The important question for us, however, is less about identifying a particular demon behind every weakness and more about recognizing what happens when destructive patterns begin to control a person's choices.

In the gospel of Luke, some people saw Jesus drive out a demon and accused Him of using the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons. 

Jesus answered their accusation by showing how unreasonable it was to imagine that Satan would fight against his own kingdom. 

He then gave a warning about what happens when a person experiences freedom from an evil influence but leaves the interior life unguarded. 

Jesus said, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” (Luke 11:23) 

What are our inspirations for today?

First, freedom requires us to make clear choices about what we allow to control us.

Jesus presented the image of a kingdom divided against itself. He showed that division weakens a household, a community, and a person. A life without direction can gradually become controlled by habits that once seemed small.

We can experience this in ordinary ways. A person can become controlled by anger, the need for approval, excessive entertainment, resentment, unhealthy attachments, or the constant desire to be noticed. 

These things may begin as choices, but repeated choices can eventually become patterns that are difficult to break.

Jesus reminded His listeners, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” (Luke 11:23) 

The invitation is to make intentional choices about what we value and what we allow to occupy our time, attention, and energy. Inner freedom grows when our decisions become consistent with the good we want to pursue.

Freedom requires us to make clear choices about what we allow to control us.

Second, removing one problem is not enough if we do not build something good in its place.

Jesus described a spirit leaving a person and later returning to find the house swept and put in order but empty. 

The spirit then brought other spirits with it, and the person's situation became worse. 

Jesus used this striking image to emphasize the danger of an empty interior life.

We sometimes try to change by simply removing something from our lives. We stop an unhealthy habit, leave a destructive relationship, reduce our screen time, or decide that we will no longer repeat an old mistake. 

These decisions can be important, but an empty space can easily become occupied again.

A lasting change requires something positive to take root. We can replace anger with patience, resentment with forgiveness, selfishness with generosity, and distraction with meaningful relationships. 

Jesus warned that the returning spirit “finds the house swept clean and put in order,” and then brings seven other spirits more wicked than itself. (Luke 11:25-26) 

The deeper invitation is to fill our lives with what gives direction, purpose, and goodness.

Removing one problem is not enough if we do not build something good in its place.

As we reflect, we ask ourselves: What habit, attitude, or attachment is currently taking too much control of my life? 

What am I doing to replace a destructive pattern with something genuinely good? What choices am I making today that strengthen my inner freedom and keep my heart focused on what matters?

Children of God:
Every day we make choices about what receives our attention. 

Some choices strengthen our freedom, while others can gradually limit it. 

Jesus invites us to examine these patterns with honesty. 

He also reminds us that change requires more than removing what is harmful. 

May our choices lead us toward greater freedom, greater love, and greater peace.