At our recent Bible Study Class, we were discussing the many Scripture verses that are the basis for and connection to the Mass. The reading at Mass before our class had been about the man who was possessed by "Legion", the evil spirits that Jesus exorcised and sent "into the herd of swines".
Our discussion was a diversion from what we were actually studying at class, but our pastor was making note about the fact that MANY in the world today; albeit, even Christians, do not believe in evil or evil spirits!
One of our class members immediately drew the distinction that there were, it said in the Bible, THOUSANDS of swine in that herd. You will recall that when Jesus demands the evil spirit to reveal his name...he says that he is called "Legion...for there are many of us".
Never in my life did I make the connection...if there were thousands of swine and the spirits of Legion entered the swine...then, that means there were THOUSANDS of evil spirits in that poor, poor man.
My heart ached for him. My daughter lamented that it is a wonder he survived long enough to be healed.
And then, my thoughts turned to the current state of affairs in this nation. Today, I saw a video by Planned Parenthood, celebrating the recent decision by the Administration to force Catholic institutions to provide abortions and contraception in their health insurance packages. The woman at the center of the video...which was, essentially, a bunch of people from various ethnic backgrounds dancing in the streets; was dressed as a huge pack of birth control pills. We watch people petition for supposed "gay" marriages...I have received spam/emails from CATHOLICS regarding this topic...and more and more rights and freedoms are being stripped away each and every day.
I thought to myself, "This is Legion...or another group of evil spirits...that have loosed themselves upon our society". There are THOUSANDS, most likely.
I think of that poor, poor man...in fact, I always feel sorry for him at the end of that story, when he asks Jesus if he can go with Him and the Lord tells him no...that he must go back to his family.
My daughter says that, to her, this illustrates that each of us has a calling and not all are called to priests or religious...Jesus sends that man back to his "family" state in life. (Good point).
But, as I think of his tormented body...I think of the tormented bodies of the women who have had abortions and live to regret it...I think of all the women who are dying of breast cancers caused by their birth control pills...I think of all the tortured and confused souls who try to convince themselves that homosexuality lifestyles are not sinful...
...and I know that evil is real...and that evil spirits are real.
HOWEVER...GREAT is the mercy of CHRIST, JESUS...Lord and Savior!
And, just as He sent Legion fleeing in haste...He can heal the sinful souls of this modern world, as well.
We, who believe and trust in Him, must increase our prayers, fasting, penance, and devotions, so that those who are lost and those who are confused and those who are possessed...CAN BE HEALED.
God bless your compassionate heart. I want to say, Right on! Perhaps there are millions of demons out there, not thousands, because we can see the presence of Satan in many areas of life beyond abortion. Our only answer is, as you say, Jesus, who is stronger than all. Reading your post made me think once again of how very blessed we are to be Catholic and to know the importance of reparative suffering. I never thought I would say this in my life, but the more I see of the world, the more I want to suffer in the sense St. Paul spoke of in Col. 1:24.
ReplyDeleteGod bless your compassionate heart. I want to say, Right on! Perhaps there are millions of demons out there, not thousands, because we can see the presence of Satan in many areas of life beyond abortion. Our only answer is, as you say, Jesus, who is stronger than all. Reading your post made me think once again of how very blessed we are to be Catholic and to know the importance of reparative suffering. I never thought I would say this in my life, but the more I see of the world, the more I want to suffer in the sense St. Paul spoke of in Col. 1:24.
ReplyDeleteGod bless your compassionate heart. I want to say, Right on! Perhaps there are millions of demons out there, not thousands, because we can see the presence of Satan in many areas of life beyond abortion. Our only answer is, as you say, Jesus, who is stronger than all. Reading your post made me think once again of how very blessed we are to be Catholic and to know the importance of reparative suffering. I never thought I would say this in my life, but the more I see of the world, the more I want to suffer in the sense St. Paul spoke of in Col. 1:24.
ReplyDeleteIt is a chilling thought Judy to think that one person could be possessed by a legion of demons. One person. Then as you pointed out, look at our government and those defending abortion. Chilling.
ReplyDeleteI just blogged about a woman named Melanie Linton who is the new President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast region. In a statement to the press she said "she is honored and humbled to be entrusted to this sacred duty." She calls it sacred. Very confused woman who I'm praying for daily now.