Homily: Thursday of 5th Week in Ordinary Time - Proclaimed Faith casts out demons

Imagine the suffering and confusion of a parent whose child becomes demon-possessed.  Impelled by the depth of her love for her daughter, the Syrophoenician woman sought after Jesus, whose reputation proceeded him as he came to the district of Tyre, on the coast of present-day Lebanon.

She is the only person in Mark’s Gospel who addresses Jesus as Lord.  She has discerned his true identity: the Holy One—God in the flesh—who stands before her now. 

“For saying this, you may go.” Jesus said.  It was not just her interior faith, not just faith that she kept to herself, but that faith proclaimed, spoken out loud that led to her daughter’s deliverance from demonic oppression.

Sometimes the healings and deliverance God wants to work in our life, doesn’t come just through our private prayer, but our proclamation of the Gospel, our involvement in the work of evangelization, and spreading the Gospel. 

I think it is particularly this work of evangelization, of public proclamation which casts out the demons of our culture.  For our battle is not just against human forces, as St. Paul says, “but against the principalities and powers, the rulers of this world of darkness, the evil spirits in regions above."

This is why it is so important for Catholics to know their faith and to be able to explain it in a clear manner.  This is why it is important for the Holy Father and the Bishops to be very public about the Church’s teaching concerning care for the poor and also regarding the moral issues.

Jesus uses the word proclaimed, the truth shared to cast out demons.  The Syrophoenician woman is a model of faith for us, she does not keep her faith private, but boldly proclaims Jesus to be Lord, which leads to the healing and salvation of her loved one.

May we be bold in our faithful proclamation of Christ’s Gospel today, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.