Monday 1st February, 2010
2 Samuel 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13. Lord, rise up and save me—Ps 3:2-8. Mark 5:1-20.

  
Meditation: mp3 | podcast
Readings: Text | mp3 | podcast

Jesus said to him, ‘Come out of this man, you evil spirit!’

The subject of demons and demon possession seems remote to our rational way of looking at the world. We accept the existence of demons in New Testament times but we tend to think that’s where the story ends. But demons are actually uncomfortably close to home.

We often talk about the so-called demon of doubt, of anger, of overindulgence, of drunkenness, laziness and so on. But it seems these failings are so common they hardly need the help of Satan.

Perhaps real demons exist in the dark places of our soul where we have lost control—lost hope—and can no longer find a way forward. This seems a better description of true possession that, because of our blindness, can only be cured with outside help. Through the example of Jesus we are called to free others of their demons—and to allow others to cure us.