22nd Week in OT 2020 - Tuesday - Driving out Demons

 After the attempt on his life in his home town of Nazareth, the Lord commences his public ministry and enters the town which will be his headquarters for the next three years, Capernaum. And what’s the first thing he does when he arrives? He drives out a demon. 

Whenever a Catholic comes to a new place, they should do the same. When moving into a new home, one should summon the parish priest to bless it. You don’t know what was going on in that home before you lived there. It’s not likely the place was used for holy purposes. Catholics who travel a lot should bring holy water with them, so that they can bless their hotel rooms. I can guarantee those places were not used for holy purposes. 

Holy water, exorcized salt, blessed crucifixes and images of Our Lady, these help to reclaim territory for Christ, territory in which the demons may have had free reign, who have entered into that place through the sins of previous occupants, who may even have been welcomed in through occult practices or open defiance to the teachings of Christ.

The sacramentals, the blessed objects, not only do they drive away the darkness in a place, but they keep us focused on our identity and mission as Catholics. When we are in a room with a blessed crucifix, we do better at watching what we say, as we should. You should put an image of Our Lady near your television or computer screen, so that she can watch you, to make sure you aren’t watching what you shouldn’t. These objects should not just be decoration, but we should look at them with devotion, renewing our faith when we glimpse them.

These objects, too, placed in the various rooms of your home will help visitors know that they are in a Catholic home, a blessed place, where the angels of God stand guard, a place dedicated to the Lord. They may be one way the Lord pricks the conscience of a fallen away Catholic, or someone with a guilty conscience who needs to go to confession.

The Lord wishes to continue to drive out demons, through us—through the exercise of our faith and our devotional life, as we encounter others in the world, we should be praying for them, that whatever demons which may be darkening their intellect or even possessing them, may be muzzled and driven out. 

May we be effective instruments of this exorcizing mission of Christ for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all members of the Church, laity and clergy will be effective instruments for driving out demons and reclaiming souls for Christ.

For an end to indifference to God and human dignity in our government and educational institutions, businesses, and personal attitudes.

During this month of September, dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, we pray for all those who grieve, and that we may grieve sufficiently for our sins.

That the love of Christ, the divine physician, may bring healing to the sick and comfort to all the suffering.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased priests and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom. We pray.

O God, who know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.