Eclipse

After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon. Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded with him about her. He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and waited on them. At sunset, all who had  people sick with various diseases brought them to him. He laid his hands on each of them and cured them. And demons also came out from many, shouting, “You are the Son of God.” But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Christ.

At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them. But he said to them, “To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.” And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea. (Luke 4:38-44)

Demons represent the darkness within us that can take over our souls.  The Holy Spirit – the light within us – is eclipsed by demons that cast large shadows blinding us from what is good and just.   Our consciences dim and are blotted out.  We become shadows of our former selves forgetting that we have better angels who wait for us to awaken from deep slumber plagued by nightmarish thoughts and behavior.  Where is God who seems displaced by dark forces to which we voluntarily submit?  

Severe fevers inflict us when we set aside pro-life concerns, especially the lives we are supposed to live according to Jesus’ teachings and commandments.  We are pro-life when we rebuke the demons causing our fevers.  Demons know Jesus – our light of Christ – is the Son of God.  This is why demons block out this light.  

We tend to be sick with various diseases such as racism, bigotry, arrogance, hatred, and self-centeredness.  These demons are like COVID-19 – viruses that infect and spread.  Our best vaccine is Christ.  But first we must inject ourselves.  The needle we must use is love.

Deacon David Pierce