Take today’s Gospel reading. It’s not very fashionable to talk about demons. Many people feel uncomfortable with such “primitive” concepts, so they try to find other ways to explain this story. Maybe these two people were mentally disturbed, or maybe they suffered from a severe form of epilepsy—anything that can be explained, and therefore controlled, in scientific, human terms.
But if we find that our view of reality is different from the biblical approach, our safest response is to compare our view with what we read in biblical commentaries or the Catechism. We should always approach the word of God with an attitude of respect, trust, and a willingness to be taught by the Lord. We should always be willing to examine our thoughts and attitudes to see if they conform to the way God wants us to think and live.
Today’s reading is a case in point. There is much we can learn if we accept the fact that there really is a demonic realm and that demons really do have the ability to influence people. It doesn’t mean that we have to accept every depiction of demonic activity in books or movies. But it does mean that the devil may well have had a hand in shaping some of the attitudes in our hearts. He is not above meddling in our lives, even to the point of introducing thoughts into our minds—temptations that seek to lead us away from Jesus.
So how can we discern where our thoughts come from? By making sure that the Holy Spirit is ministering to our consciences as we pray and celebrate the sacraments. If that is happening, then the thoughts that have an evil origin will unsettle us and make us anxious. By contrast, the thoughts that come from the Spirit will fill us with peace and assurance. God wants to form us. He wants to open our eyes. All he needs is our cooperation.
“Come, Holy Spirit, and fill me with the mind of Christ.”
Genesis 21:5,8-20; Psalm 34:7-8,10-13