One Reason God Allows Evil Spirits to Rage in Human Bodies and to Subject Individuals to Diseases
September 1
(The Miracle of Saint Symeon Concerning the Presbyter)
September 1
(The Miracle of Saint Symeon Concerning the Presbyter)
By Archpriest Victor Guryev
It is known that evil spirits not only try to destroy the souls of people, arousing, supporting and multiplying among them errors, superstitions and all kinds of impiety, but, as we see in the possessed and other sufferers, they sometimes rage in human bodies and subject people to bodily illnesses. Why does the Lord allow evil spirits this latter? And why are they given power not only over the spirit, but even over the flesh? Know, brethren, that in this last case evil spirits are instruments of God's wrath and God allows them to inflict illnesses on people for their sins, so that they, although it is through sorrows and bodily suffering, come to consciousness of themselves, repent of their sins and correct themselves.
One day a certain priest was sitting in the church vestibule and reading the Holy Gospel. While he was reading, he suddenly felt as if some dark and gloomy cloud had surrounded him, and at the same time the light dimmed in his eyes, and his mind became darkened, and in all his limbs he felt a weakening, and he became mute.
He endured such a dreadful illness for nine years and suffered to the extent that, lying on his bed, he could not turn from side to side without assistance. In the meantime, it finally came to pass that his relatives, hearing of the miracles performed by the Venerable Symeon the Stylite, took the presbyter and carried him to the Venerable One. When they, having rested for a time not far from the monastery where Symeon resided, were lying down to rest, he who was standing in prayer was revealed from above concerning the illness of the presbyter and his impending arrival. Then the Venerable One called one of his disciples, gave him holy water, and said: "Take this water and hasten quickly from the monastery. Near it, you will see the sick presbyter being carried on a bed; sprinkle him with the holy water and tell him the following: 'Sinful Symeon says to you: In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, rise, take up your bed, and come to Symeon yourself.'"
The disciple went and acted as the Venerable One instructed him. The presbyter immediately became healthy, approached the Venerable One, and fell at his feet. Symeon said to him, "Arise and fear not. Although the devil has inflicted upon you a nine-year tribulation, God’s loving-kindness has not forgotten you and has not allowed you to perish utterly. Know that the devil has been permitted to provoke you because you fearlessly and irreverently stood in the holy altar, listening to slanderers and those slandered by them, without discerning the truth, thus depriving them of Holy Communion. In doing so, you saddened God and greatly delighted the devil, to whom you fell under the shadow of his power. But now, seeing that God's loving-kindness and generosity have increased towards you, release those whom you have saddened by excommunications, and as the Lord has shown mercy to you, so too should you show mercy to them." After these words, the presbyter joyfully departed from the Venerable One and fulfilled all that had been commanded to him.
From this account, it seems clear, brethren, that evil spirits can truly act as executors of God's wrath at times, and that God allows them to inflict sufferings upon people precisely for their sins, so that they may, through corporeal trials and tribulations, repent of their iniquities and amend their ways. The aforementioned presbyter illustrates this truth most convincingly. For what reason did he fall under the dominion of the devil, who struck him with illness? For sins. Why was this allowed? So that the presbyter, as Symeon advised him, might acknowledge his sins and atone for them.
But this is not the only example. We also see that the Apostle Paul commanded the incestuous man to be delivered over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that the spirit may be saved (1 Cor. 5:5). Do you hear? He commanded to deliver him over to Satan not for the destruction of the man, but for his correction, that the spirit may be saved. Thus, let us repeat, it is clear that the Lord allows evil spirits to inflict illnesses upon people due to their sins, so that they may, through trials and suffering, come to self-awareness and repentance.
From this, what lesson can we draw for ourselves, brethren? The lesson is that we must remember that although demons are always seeking to do us harm, they can do nothing to us without God's permission. If we wish to avoid their dark power, we must shun sin and live virtuously, remembering that evil spirits cannot harm those who are holy and reverent before God. Furthermore, if we know that demons constantly seek to harm us and are permitted to do so because of our sins, we must be ever vigilant concerning ourselves, our thoughts, intentions, and actions. We must constantly be vigilant and clothe ourselves in all the armor prescribed to us in the word of God against the enemies of our salvation. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8). Amen.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
