Seven Unclean Demons

In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?  Have you come to destroy us?  I know who you are–the Holy One of God!"  Jesus rebuked him and said, "Be quiet! Come out of him!" Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing him any harm. They were all amazed and said to one another, "What is there about his word?  For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out."  And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.

All of us have unclean demons inside of us.  Some would say there are seven deadly ones.  They try to control and destroy us.   A demon called envy is especially powerful.  A demon called greed is close behind.  When they assemble within us they can dominate compassion, understanding, and even love.

One good reason to attend Mass and to be involved in charitable works is that by doing so we are able to shout at the demons: “Be quiet! Get out of us!”   They start to listen – to hear us.

It takes a lot of effort for us to compel the demons to throw us down and go out of us without doing us any harm.  We cannot relax, and that’s why the words of Jesus are so important to us.    He has the authority and power we need to strive for the good, the clean, and best impulses in all of us.  That’s what Jesus has to do with us.

Snow White had the seven dwarfs to protect her.   We need Jesus to protect us from the deadly seven.

Deacon David Pierce