By: John Zmirak – stream.org – February 1, 2018

It’s rare that political events call to mind specific events from the New Testament. But this week’s State of the Union address did just that. Just this past Sunday Catholics heard an intriguing Gospel reading:

[T]here was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching! With authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee. (Mark 1, 23-28)

One fascinating fact revealed by this encounter, and similar ones in scripture: The devils are perfectly orthodox. They know, better than anyone, the cosmic facts of the matter. They knew them when they fell, and try as they must to fool themselves, they still know the truth: That God is in charge, and that they cannot defeat Him. It is envy and impotent rage that sends them after us instead.

Trump: Not a Savior, But a Catalyst

In the secular realm, we saw something analogous happen. No, Trump isn’t Christ. It’s debated whether he’s even a Christian. But a ruler who stands for crucial truths, and stands firm, can exert a similar effect on those deluded by evil. Insofar as his words and actions reflect eternal Truth (perhaps even despite himself) they can serve as a catalyst. That’s the term in chemistry for a substance that provokes a potent reaction. That releases what’s already inside another substance — and perhaps makes it explode.

Agnostic playwright Václav Havel in Communist Czechoslovakia stood for the dignity and freedom of the human person. His human rights writings helped shred the credibility of Communist party bromides. And that’s why the Reds imprisoned him, and why grateful Czechs would later elect him president.

Well, our rather secular president did America a similar good turn during his State of the Union address. He didn’t perform an exorcism, or speak with divine “authority.” But he did tell a few simple truths. And that set many Democrats scowling, grimacing, and writhing. They did everything but spin their heads around.

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Trump’s State of the Union speech sent many Democrats charging straight ahead, snorting and squealing, down their own slippery slope, like the herd of Gadarene Swine. But that’s a gospel for another Sunday.

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Source: The State of the Union and the Congress with an Unclean Spirit