Don’t Be a Helpless Pawn to Your Demons

Jas 3:13-18 / Mk 9:14-29

For those of us who think ourselves ever so modern as we stand here in the new millennium, it's easy to scoff at stories about demons and to conjure up pictures of little red men with horns and pointed tails. But to do that is foolhardy, for the reality of evil in the world is not to be sniffed at, and our struggle with it is undeniable and lifelong.

Each of us has our own "demons," our own disabling soul-wounds and compulsions which seek to rob us of our freedom and to drive us in directions that do not lead to life. To fail to recognize them and to acknowledge the full extent of their power over us is to make ourselves their willing victims and their helpless pawns.

But that need not happen. Our alternative is to ask the Spirit who dwells within us to help us see those inner "demons" clearly and to see where they are leading us, indeed, driving us. And that is away from life, love, and communion. The next step is to give ourselves into the hands of the Spirit, just as the boy's father did in the gospel. "I do believe," he said. "Help my lack of trust!"

That kind of prayer the Spirit always answers. And step by step He will lead us out of slavery's darkness and into freedom's light.

When we give it free rein, the Spirit's power always prevails.

MENU