LUKE 11:24-26

Jesus said, “When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, ‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’ But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, and the last condition of that person is worse than the first.” 

Gospelthink: Evil is persistent and you must always be prepared to work against it. Is there some evil in my life that I have not addressed as I should?

As the special force move on the Capitol, Katniss and Gale moved toward the presidential mansion. As they approached the Capitol, the rebels arrived to fight the Peacekeepers of the Capitol. Everything turned to chaos as more bombs were dropped, seemingly by the Capitol forces of President Snow. During the exchange Katniss' sister Prim was killed and Katniss was wounded. When Katniss woke up, she was under the care of her mother; the rebellion had triumphed, and Katniss was called upon to punish President Snow for his treachery. In the meantime, the rebellion leader Coin had made herself President, and was set to take charge of the new kingdom of Panem. It was clear that she would be a tyrant leader exactly as Snow was, even having killed children, Prim among them, as the rebel forces won. Consequently, during the execution, Katniss executed Coin instead of Snow. She and Peeta were exiled to their own District Twelve, and would be exonerated after the democratic elections took place. 

One of the most insidious acts of the evil one often happens after its apparent defeat. Jesus tells us that evil continues to function even when it looks like it has been overcome. In other words, when we want to conquer the evil around us or within us, we must continually be aware that the evil will not rest. The people who look for good must always work against the evil.

On a national scale, as exemplified in the movie "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, part 2," it often comes after the defeat of one tyrant. The victor will often be nothing more than another "tyrant" mainly because of the human being's incessant desire for power. President Coin would prove to be nothing more than another "President Snow" and perhaps only the "Mockingjay" was aware of the evil.

When we apply the thought of the movie to everyday life, it becomes a study of the desire for power. We are a people who gravitate toward power, and one of the temptations that we experience is the possibility of wanting more and more power even as we try to bring about good in our own little worlds. Evil will destroy everything it can, and one of the ways it works is to get into the minds of a good person, and infect it in such a way that the evil can appear to be a good.

If our world is to become better than it is, the players in it--you and I--must always be aware that we can be the instrument of bringing about evil.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, as we attempt to follow Your Son, we will try to bring about good in our lives and the lives around us, but we can become evil ourselves in the way we work for good.  Give us the grace to understand our motivation. Be with us, we pray. 

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Replacing a tyrant with another tyrant remains an evil.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 64 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking and why?
2. Give an example from history of a victor becoming nothing more than a tyrant.
3. What are some ways that you can think of that will purify our motives?
4. What does the movie "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, part 2" teach young people?

©2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America