Chasing out the demons

By -

I've read this passage in the Gospel of Luke (Lk 11:14-23)  a million times.  You know, the one where Jesus drives out a "demon that was mute"?  What I never really noticed before was that as soon as the demon is out, the mute man spoke, to everyone's amazement.

It occurred to me that the evil one likes it when we are silent.

There are a lot of reasons people do not speak up, but most of them, I would venture to guess, have nothing to do with the realization that it pleases Satan.  Sometimes I think that is how we have gotten into the mess we are in today in regards to moral issues.

Jesus is the one who freed the man and gave him his voice back.  Perhaps he is calling you today to use your voice for good.  In fact, we learn in this passage that it is by "the finger of God" that Jesus drives out demons.  It is his power that makes it possible, not our own, but we, indeed, need to collaborate with God.

If God is calling you to speak the truth, he will remove what prevents you from doing so.  Jesus can (and will) take away the obstacles that are keeping you silent.  Are you afraid you will not have the words you need?  Are you afraid of the consequences?  Do you feel inadequate?  Do you think he would never use YOU?  Do you feel that you lack courage?

Here is a prayer I like to pray whenever I need to be sure I am doing the right thing.  Maybe you will find it useful as well.  I copied it a long time ago from Laudate:

"Lord, if what I seek be according to your will, then let it come to pass and let success attend the outcome.

But if not, my God, let it not come to pass.

Do not leave me to my own devices, for you know how unwise I can be.  Keep me safe under your protection Lord my God, and in your own gentle way guide me and rule me as you know best.  Amen."

It is a great, humble prayer that assures us that we are not moving forward with our own agenda.  Ask God to remove whatever is keeping you silent, and if you are to speak, he will allow it.

Janet Cassidy
janetcassidy.blogspot.com



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

SAINT ELIZABETH, MOTHER OF JOHN THE BAPTIST- Feast: November 5

By -
Image
Elizabeth appears in the Gospel of Luke, where she is described as “righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly,”.  I imagine that she was warm, loving and obviously a safe harbour for young Mary, who was not married when she conceived.  When Mary came to visit her, Elizabeth was pregnant with St. John the Baptist and in her sixth month: “Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And how have I deserved that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, the moment that the sound of thy greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leapt for joy. And blessed is she who has believed, because the things promised her by the Lord shall be accomplished.” 
Read more

The Memorare

By Helen Gonsalves -
Image
This popular prayer, a favorite of many Catholics, dates back to the 15th century and takes its name from the first Latin word of the prayer, "memorare," which means "remember." The Memorare is of unknown authorship, although it has been attributed to St. Augustine (354-430), St. John Chrysostom (c. 347-407) and, with more reason, to St. Bernard of Clairvaux (c. 1090-1153). St. Bernard's sermons on Mary were famous, and it was his Cistercian monks in the monastery of Citeaux in the 12th century who popularized the name "Our Lady" for Mary. The Memorare has also been attributed to the French cleric Claude Bernard (1588-1641), known as the "poor priest" of Paris, whose homilies contain passages that echo its words. No matter who wrote this prayer, it was Father Bernard who did much to popularize it, teaching it in hospitals and prisons, where Mary's intercession was effective in working miracles of grace. The first manuscript of the Mem...
Read more

'Greater Love: Richie Fernando SJ', a joy-filled Filipino missionary

By -
Image
 I haven't been able to post for more than a week as I was giving an eight-day directed retreat to eight sisters of the Missionaries of Charity near Manila. While I had some access to the internet it was rather slow. I had intended to make a post here on the murder of Fr Fausto Tentorio PIME , a 59-year-old Italian priest, in the Diocese of Kidapawan, Mindanao, on Monday 17 October. I will save that post for a later date. As I was looking for a video about Father Fausto I came across one about Brother Richard Michael 'Richie' Fernando SJ, a Filipino Jesuit scholastic who died while trying to prevent a troubled and disabled young man in Cambodia from throwing a grenade. That was in 1996 - on 17 October. Father Fausto gave his life exactly 15 years later. I remember the mixture of sorrow and pride I felt when I read of the death of Brother Richie, pride as a missionary in the Philippines that a young Filipino seminarian had given his life so spontaneously in order to sav...
Read more