BELIEF IN DEMONS

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this Wednesday in the First Week of Ordinary Time is, “Belief In Demons.”

If we want to understand the Bible, we better get an understanding of demons. It helps if we have relatives from Italy or from Spanish countries. Yet, demons, the evil eye, evil forces, are pretty much part of all the old cultures of the world.

Today some people have trouble saying, “I believe in God.” Would it be more difficult to say, “I believe in demons”? I don’t know. I’d have to think about that and do more listening and studying on that one.

DEMONS

If we read the scriptures and / or if we study the cultures of the Mediterranean Basin - as well as Africa - and Asia - we find evidence of a regular belief in demons - and spirits - and scary energies.

To the Greeks demons or “daimons” are lesser deities - some good - some bad. Breaking the Greek word, “daimon” down - it has in it the root word “to know”. Demons know.

There are demons at one’s doorstep. There are demons in the marketplace. There are demons in one’s sleep. There is a specific demon - “Utukku” who attacks the neck. Another - named “Namtaru” attacked the throat. And on and on and on. There are demons that attack pregnant women. There are demons that come with the south wind - or what have you. And in time they get specific names.

We usually think of demons as bad - because when we are sick or troubled - when we’re filled with negative vibes - then we’re more apt to think of demons as evil - and negative. In general they are usually bad forces - bad spirits.

But angels - are forces - that are good - and bring energy - and demons are certainly forces of energy.

So we see Angels at entrances to churches. The Holy Water fonts at the main entrance at St. Mary’s are two marble angels.

In the great cathedrals of Europe we see gargoyles up there on the walls - and at the tops of pillars - that are part of the draining system - and they spit out water - or what have you. They are also saying that evil should stay outside - when people go into pray.

In the Holy, Holy at Mass, we say “Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts!” We hear about the presence of countless hosts of Angels.” We hear about Thrones and Dominions - and all those around God’s altar in heaven.

So some of those hosts are these good spirits.

TODAY’S GOSPEL

Here in today’s gospel, Peter’s mother-in-law has demons - and as a result she is sick - and can’t serve.

So Jesus heals here of her sickness - and she rises to serve.

The message is obvious: Jesus can heal and help us deal with our bad demons.

Obviously, we know a lot more about sickness in the year 2012 than they knew in 32 - in the year of the Lord.

But today there are still lots of sicknesses where the Lord Jesus can enter into the story.

We could list mental sickness …. depression …. alcoholism (In the first step, one declares that I am powerless of demon rum). In the second step one declares that there is a power greater than myself who can help - and for some this is God.

CONCLUSION

The goal of my homily is to simply state that in Scriptural texts and Scripture settings, we’ll hear about demons - who were a very real part of human life in the both Testaments.

The bottom line then would be prayer and to declare what we heard in today’s first reading, “Here I am Lord, I’m listening.”

Here I am Lord I’m waiting for your power to heal me - so I can serve better. Amen.