The WORD in other words (2021) by Fr Honorio Mateo SVD – Paraguay
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time / B
DEMONS EXIST! Do you believe that?
The gospel today speaks to us about the coming of the Kingdom of God. Through the story of the healing of a demoniac, it tells us that the Kingdom of God is the presence in our midst of the Holy One of God, Jesus Himself. Against the background of the healing of a man with an unclean spirit, Jesus comes as the one who brings the love, the presence, and the forgiveness of God to everyone.
In the gospel, we are told that in the synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit. Was this man possessed by a demon? Maybe. But probably, this was a disturbed man who went to the synagogue to find peace. Probably, this man was emotionally and spiritually in pain, and he was longing for healing. Maybe this was a man overwhelmed by loneliness, and he went to the synagogue to seek care and understanding. Perhaps this man was heavily burdened by a terrible sin, and he went to the synagogue to find forgiveness.
And in a place where he was supposed to be in silence, this man cried out, “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!” And then Jesus came to him and said: “Quiet! Come out of him!”
Come to think of it; this man could also be you and me. Within us, demons exist. Deep inside, a demon torments us. Demons, perhaps, are the dark side of ourselves. We all have an unclean spirit within us, an impure thought, a sinful act. We have wounds, and we have wounded others too. We all have some fears and insecurities. We all have an experience that haunts us.
The man with an unclean spirit entered the synagogue because he felt he needed God to heal him. Just like him, we come to church, and we pray because we need to experience the presence of God in our hearts. We need God to heal us and to strengthen us. We need the peace of God, the forgiveness, and the love of God. We need to hear him say: “Quiet! Come out of him!”
And so when Jesus comes, He comes with kindness. When Jesus comes into our lives, He brings mercy and compassion. When Jesus comes, He brings healing and forgiveness. When Jesus comes, He comes with the presence of God, with the love and peace of God because He is the Holy One of God.
