Healing our Demons

We heard in the gospel of Luke, “people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid…. Jesus sent [the man] away saying, ‘Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.’ So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him. -

A man possessed by demons had fallen down before Jesus.  He had been bound with chains and shackles and was afraid that Jesus, like others before him, was going to torture him.  He was powerless and in bondage.  He saw Jesus and shouted at the top of his voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?  I beg you, do not torment me.”  He was obviously frightened because “Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man.”  Jesus then asked him his name.  The man said, “‘Legion’, for many demons had entered him.”

One of the many gifts Jesus had was the ability to heal.  Jesus was a healer.  His healing encompassed “a wide range of phenomena.  Physical healing,… psychological healing, inner healing, healing of memories,…and also healing of societies and institutions.”  Driving the demons, the unclean spirit, out of the man demonstrated the level of Jesus’ care for those in desperate situations.  The name “Legion” that the man gave to himself means “many.”

The many demons of our time are the consequences of the sins that infect our culture.  Greed, individualism, inequality, racism, bigotry, and violence are the demons that need to be driven out and healed.  It is a healing that encompasses psychological healing, educational healing, inner healing, physical healing, social and institutional healing.  It is the healing Jesus demonstrated when he commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man named Legion.

Jesus was compassionate and cared deeply for the poor and oppressed people of the world.  He demonstrated that God’s love included outsiders, especially women, Gentiles, marginalized, and people possessed by demonic forces.  Jesus showed that God’s power was mightier than the power of evil.

Two weeks ago I spoke about the need for effective gun legislation that would require background checks on all gun purchases and other violence prevention measures, including making gun trafficking a federal crime

In light of what happened last week in Orlando, Florida, it is now critical that action occurs in preventing gun violence in our country.

The hate and bigotry toward fellow citizens and people of different religions, gender and race is unconscionable.

Gun violence is not something that happens to other people.  The deaths in Connecticut, Colorado, California, and Florida impact every person.  They happen to us and to everyone.   We know there is widespread public support for gun-safety measures.

Here in Rhode Island there are legislative measures that have been introduced to target perpetrators of domestic violence, to keep guns out of Rhode Island schools, and to restrict high-capacity magazines. These are sensible legislative measures designed to improve public safety.

There have been vigils and prayers offered on behalf of the victims and families of the Orlando massacre.  We shall soon pray in a Litany to Prevent Gun Violence, “Merciful God, bind up the wounds of all who suffer from gun violence, those maimed and disfigured, those left alone and grieving, and those who struggle to get through one more day.  Bless them with your presence and help them find hope.”

Prayers and moments of silence whether in Congress or our General Assembly are important but they are not enough.  As I said two weeks ago Christians and people of faith in God’s plan for creation and the future of all humanity musty do more than offer only thoughts and prayers for victims, both dead and wounded, and their families.

We need to rise to the challenge presented by the Gospel to heal our society of unclean spirits, to alleviate suffering and death and to transform our culture so it will become one of peace and justice, and a place in which children may grow and flourish in safety.  Working for peace and justice and the end to violence requires a commitment to action for promoting the common good and health of our society.

You and I come to church where we can find the Spirit of God’s love in our lives as we open our hearts, kindle our spirits and enlighten our minds so the awe and wonder of our lives and relationships will fill our souls.  Here we experience the healing ministry of Jesus.  Here we experience the mercy and compassion of God.  Here we pray as Paul said in his letter to the Galatians, ‘There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female;” and I add, there is no longer straight or gay, there is no longer Christian or Muslim, “for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.’”  Amen.