Word to the Wise
Friday, October 13, 2017 - Friday in the 27th Week in Ordinary Time
[Joel 1:13-15; 2:1-2 and Luke 11:15-26]"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 man is worse than the first." [Luke]
In the early 1970's, the movie, THE EXORCIST, caused a lot of excitement. I was a newly ordained Dominican friar, working at Tulane Catholic Center and attending Tulane Law School. Students were coming, certain that their roommates or themselves were possessed! The rarity of true demonic possession was hard to get across. In Jesus' time, demons were considered to be at the root of many problems, especially illness. His ability to dispel these "demons" made him a target for accusations that he himself was possessed, under the old notion, "It takes one to know one." Jesus turns the argument on its head when he says, "Every kingdom divided againstitself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?" Jesus is really the "finger of God" and his power shows God's kingdom.
However, the dispelling of a demon is not an occasion for letting one's guard down. That is the meaning of the quote from today's gospel. Anyone in a 12-step program knows the truth of that warning. The "demon" of addiction is a terrible and persistent one. Drugs, gambling, food, spending - these are all well-known subjects of addiction. Even more rampant now is the addiction to internet pornography. Those who are able with God's help and good counseling/12-step programs know how they must keep their houses in order and protect against the return of the demon. They are not in a class by themselves. We all have our sins and failings that may not be classical addictions but continual patterns. We know that in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we sometimes complain that our sins always seem to be the same ones! It may be that we are not doing good housekeeping to keep these demons from returning! Jesus' words today can serve as a reminder to be more conscious of our need for his help and that of our friends and community. AMEN
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