Tuesday September 3, 2024

Luke 4:31-37

In the synagogue there was a man who was possessed by the spirit of an unclean devil, and it shouted at the top of its voice, ‘Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?

In the charismatic renewal movement we did a lot of exorcisms. Yes I am well aware how that landed with you. It is a topic that has been taken into the movies and I need you to know and understand that the movies have captured a fraction of the truth. There are people who are possessed by unclean spirits. In the west we are uncomfortable with that language and we have found ways to talk about it. We can say that someone has a split personality or they are having hallucinations. Yes all that is very true. But it is also true that some types can only be driven out by prayer and fasting.

I once said to someone I care for very much “I am not talking to you but to the demon that has possessed you!!” It totally heard me.

Anyway my prayer today is to allow our Lord into my own life so he can destroy anything in me that is not of God. I want to be so good at catching myself when I let destructive forces to take over. We have to know our demons guys so we can allow the power of God to drive them out.

On the other hand, we are god. We are a spark of the divine that has been summoned to our age and time. Today this is your prayer “ I have heard your summons O God of creation. Here I am.”

Fr. Chibundi