Today's readings are a mishmash of things: Ancient prophecies of prophets to come, unclean spirits shrieking and convulsing their hosts as they take leave at a command, and advice that the easiest–which is not to say the best, only the 'easiest'–way to live the Christian life is remaining unmarried. By the way, WHY, in heaven's name would St. Paul suggest Christians remain unmarried? Why would he think it easier? Well, think about it…love is always easier in theory than in practice, right? When you have to love ONE PERSON day in and day out, 24/7, you KNOW you're working out your salvation!!! Love is always easier for those who have less personal investment. That's one reason why celibacy works for our Church. It's easier for me to love each one of you, if I can send you home after an hour or two. Now, religious life is a different story: being a Trinitarian is no basket of warm puppies, let me assure you! Anyway, what I want you to see is that it would take a Midrashic scholar to begin to follow a literary thread through the mine fields of the readings for this weekend..
So, when things are complex, the best advice is always to 'simplify.' So, let's just take a few minutes and look at the confrontation between the power of God and whatever is meant by the unclean spirit in the Gospel, and then go to supper/brunch, OK?
First of all, what is an "unclean spirit?" Is it evil? Frankly, we don't know. The general assumption by most N.T. commentators is that anything 'unclean' is evil, but that's not true. In its most basic level, unclean refers to something that is 'out of place.' The world was divided into the sacred and the profane. The sacred was anything that had to do contact with God in ritual. The profane was that which dealt with contact with others in everyday life. That's simple enough.
But...what happens when the two get mixed up? Ah, as Shakespeare would say: "There's the rub!" And "UNCLEAN" things resulted: sometimes they were holy things in profane space, and sometimes profane things in holy space. For instance, daily living—doing the dishes, making toast, going to work, are NOT unclean; they are opportunities for holiness IN THE PROFANE WORLD, but, if you move into a sanctuary without properly taking leave of the profane world, and putting on a mind for worship, you MIX UP the two worlds, and create uncleanness…i.e., a person in the presence of God who hasn't prepared to be there. Or, a scroll of a book in the Bible, for example, is sacred, and mediates an understanding of God and God's expectations of us. So, to come into its presence and touch it demands a ritual cleansing–a letting go of the "outside world" to fully appreciate the "inner world" of God and prayer–to go to the Torah "unprepared ritually," would be to be unclean.
What might happen to him? Well, he might get strange, ridiculous ideas from reading the holy texts, and think they are from God, when they would just be the products of his neurosis. He could be SPIRITUALLY HARMED because of lack of proper attitude and preparation. By the same token, when leaving the place of the study of the holy scrolls, one had just touched the sacred object that mediated the will of Almighty God, in other words, you had a lot of "power" surrounding you, so you needed a ritual in order to move back into the world and not bring a 'curse' on it. You had to find a way to neutralize that power.
What happens when someone comes from sacred study into the "every day world" unprepared? Well, chances are, he'll be insufferably judgmental, holier than thou, and drive people away from religion and God rather than attracting them. He would be SPIRITUALLY DANGEROUS! Each dimension has its own aura, its own rules, its own attitudes. So, as I said, if someone entered the Torah room without the ritual, he was "out of place," or unclean. The same was true if he moved back into the everyday world from the Torah house without the ritual. He was 'out of place,' he had 'too much potential power' to his person...he was dangerous.
Do you begin to see some of the complexity of "clean vs. unclean" and why it's hard for 21st century folk to comprehend it? We have some of the same ideas, as Catholics, which is why we put holy water stoups at the doors of our churches. We need to re-focus our minds and hearts toward God as we enter here to give Him worship and homage, and again when we leave so that we aren't insufferable to non-church goers, but rather make the Christian path attractive to them.
Corpses, for example, were always dangerous, and to have contact with them was to render oneself unclean. Not because people were afraid of ghosts, but because from God's side, the power of God was hovering there–the power that had just reclaimed the 'breath of life' that had once animated that body. And, from our side, death always brings questions of God's goodness, justice, providence, etc., so they put one's mind in danger of being swamped with questions one doesn't have the depth to handle, yet. Rituals were needed to bring one's mind and heart to a place of peace with God's will at moments of death and tragedy.
Now, clean and unclean, kosher and non-kosher is far broader than what I've just told you, but I concentrate on this narrower approach simply because most Christians don't begin to understand what clean and unclean are about and end up thinking "sinful vs. not sinful," which is wrong. So, let's, for this weekend, think of things that are 'out of place' as being unclean.
Now an "unclean" spirit that is afraid of him confronts Jesus. You notice, the text does NOT call this an evil spirit, but an unclean spirit. There are places in the New Testament that DO speak of evil spirits, but this isn't one of them, so paying attention to this detail will be helpful. It's a spirit "out of place." Not evil, but 'out of place.' It shouldn't have been where it was: in that man. Maybe in another man, maybe floating in the air, but NOT in THAT man! That man wasn't ready for it, or couldn't appreciate it, or didn't deserve it...whatever. The spirit was 'out of place.'
And because it was 'out of place,' IT didn't have a proper perspective. It feared Jesus. But throughout the N.T. we learn that Jesus is the one person that no one should fear! But, because of an improper perspective because of being out of place, the spirit that encounters Jesus is afraid–afraid Jesus is out to destroy it–Jesus—Jesus???–the one who came only to give Life that they may have it more abundantly–out to 'destroy?'??? So, the unclean spirit, the 'out of place' spirit makes a scene, and Jesus simply says, "Oh, Pipe down! Be calm! Be still!" "Come out!" And it did. And peace was restored–to the man, AND to the spirit!
Christ, apparently has a way of helping things to find their right place; he has a way of finding the holy trapped in the profane and releasing it so that it can be what it is: holy, and not dangerous.
Now, I want you to think about your own life. Today's gospel assures you that through the power of the Christ God can restore order and tranquility to your whole being. The Christ has the power to "put things in their proper place without destroying anything." Christ has the power to bring balance and peace to troubled lives. He is not here to destroy you. He is not here to destroy your interests and make you into a 20th century Puritan! He is here with God's Ordering Power to bring all your interests and energies to wholeness, so that you can become all that you are intended to be. And, He can do that for you. And, he will do that for you. I have no idea what "confusions of worlds" you've brought here, today. Your family life may not 'jive' with your religious beliefs, your work may not give you time for your family. Who knows all the difficulties we've all brought here? But, there is power in the Eucharistic Lord, power in this sacrament that will begin to heal your inner brokenness. That is what Christ does. That is what our gospel reading is telling us.
And, look at our world. There is so much wonderful energy coming to the fore, but so often it is energy "out of place" and brings destruction where it should bring help. Look at the creative power of our youth; it is so wonderful. And when we channel it to goodness, it builds homes for the poor in Habitat for Humanity, it builds churches and missions in Saltillo, Monterrey or Tijuana. BUT, when it just "wanders," unchanneled, it often groups up in gangs that terrorize neighborhoods and kill each other. Think what could happen if that wonderful energy were "in the right place," channeled toward wholeness and healing! Through us and our lives, that can happen. How can we, a small inner city congregation affect young people? God will work through us. That, also, is the promise and the power of this sacrament. You are receiving God in this banquet we call "the Mass." And with the Body of Christ comes Divine Power, Divine Energy, growing wisdom and insight.
Just as God will, through this reception of Christ's body and blood, heal us, so He will, through US, heal our world. His energy will put things where they belong to bring wholeness and peace, for as the prophet said of God: "My plans for you are plans of peace."
My prayer for us, today, is that as we come to the Table of the Prince of Peace, and receive His Body and Blood, that His divine Power, His insight and strength and wisdom will work through us, bringing healing to us, our families, and our society. And may God bless you all. +
So, when things are complex, the best advice is always to 'simplify.' So, let's just take a few minutes and look at the confrontation between the power of God and whatever is meant by the unclean spirit in the Gospel, and then go to supper/brunch, OK?
First of all, what is an "unclean spirit?" Is it evil? Frankly, we don't know. The general assumption by most N.T. commentators is that anything 'unclean' is evil, but that's not true. In its most basic level, unclean refers to something that is 'out of place.' The world was divided into the sacred and the profane. The sacred was anything that had to do contact with God in ritual. The profane was that which dealt with contact with others in everyday life. That's simple enough.
But...what happens when the two get mixed up? Ah, as Shakespeare would say: "There's the rub!" And "UNCLEAN" things resulted: sometimes they were holy things in profane space, and sometimes profane things in holy space. For instance, daily living—doing the dishes, making toast, going to work, are NOT unclean; they are opportunities for holiness IN THE PROFANE WORLD, but, if you move into a sanctuary without properly taking leave of the profane world, and putting on a mind for worship, you MIX UP the two worlds, and create uncleanness…i.e., a person in the presence of God who hasn't prepared to be there. Or, a scroll of a book in the Bible, for example, is sacred, and mediates an understanding of God and God's expectations of us. So, to come into its presence and touch it demands a ritual cleansing–a letting go of the "outside world" to fully appreciate the "inner world" of God and prayer–to go to the Torah "unprepared ritually," would be to be unclean.
What might happen to him? Well, he might get strange, ridiculous ideas from reading the holy texts, and think they are from God, when they would just be the products of his neurosis. He could be SPIRITUALLY HARMED because of lack of proper attitude and preparation. By the same token, when leaving the place of the study of the holy scrolls, one had just touched the sacred object that mediated the will of Almighty God, in other words, you had a lot of "power" surrounding you, so you needed a ritual in order to move back into the world and not bring a 'curse' on it. You had to find a way to neutralize that power.
What happens when someone comes from sacred study into the "every day world" unprepared? Well, chances are, he'll be insufferably judgmental, holier than thou, and drive people away from religion and God rather than attracting them. He would be SPIRITUALLY DANGEROUS! Each dimension has its own aura, its own rules, its own attitudes. So, as I said, if someone entered the Torah room without the ritual, he was "out of place," or unclean. The same was true if he moved back into the everyday world from the Torah house without the ritual. He was 'out of place,' he had 'too much potential power' to his person...he was dangerous.
Do you begin to see some of the complexity of "clean vs. unclean" and why it's hard for 21st century folk to comprehend it? We have some of the same ideas, as Catholics, which is why we put holy water stoups at the doors of our churches. We need to re-focus our minds and hearts toward God as we enter here to give Him worship and homage, and again when we leave so that we aren't insufferable to non-church goers, but rather make the Christian path attractive to them.
Corpses, for example, were always dangerous, and to have contact with them was to render oneself unclean. Not because people were afraid of ghosts, but because from God's side, the power of God was hovering there–the power that had just reclaimed the 'breath of life' that had once animated that body. And, from our side, death always brings questions of God's goodness, justice, providence, etc., so they put one's mind in danger of being swamped with questions one doesn't have the depth to handle, yet. Rituals were needed to bring one's mind and heart to a place of peace with God's will at moments of death and tragedy.
Now, clean and unclean, kosher and non-kosher is far broader than what I've just told you, but I concentrate on this narrower approach simply because most Christians don't begin to understand what clean and unclean are about and end up thinking "sinful vs. not sinful," which is wrong. So, let's, for this weekend, think of things that are 'out of place' as being unclean.
Now an "unclean" spirit that is afraid of him confronts Jesus. You notice, the text does NOT call this an evil spirit, but an unclean spirit. There are places in the New Testament that DO speak of evil spirits, but this isn't one of them, so paying attention to this detail will be helpful. It's a spirit "out of place." Not evil, but 'out of place.' It shouldn't have been where it was: in that man. Maybe in another man, maybe floating in the air, but NOT in THAT man! That man wasn't ready for it, or couldn't appreciate it, or didn't deserve it...whatever. The spirit was 'out of place.'
And because it was 'out of place,' IT didn't have a proper perspective. It feared Jesus. But throughout the N.T. we learn that Jesus is the one person that no one should fear! But, because of an improper perspective because of being out of place, the spirit that encounters Jesus is afraid–afraid Jesus is out to destroy it–Jesus—Jesus???–the one who came only to give Life that they may have it more abundantly–out to 'destroy?'??? So, the unclean spirit, the 'out of place' spirit makes a scene, and Jesus simply says, "Oh, Pipe down! Be calm! Be still!" "Come out!" And it did. And peace was restored–to the man, AND to the spirit!
Christ, apparently has a way of helping things to find their right place; he has a way of finding the holy trapped in the profane and releasing it so that it can be what it is: holy, and not dangerous.
Now, I want you to think about your own life. Today's gospel assures you that through the power of the Christ God can restore order and tranquility to your whole being. The Christ has the power to "put things in their proper place without destroying anything." Christ has the power to bring balance and peace to troubled lives. He is not here to destroy you. He is not here to destroy your interests and make you into a 20th century Puritan! He is here with God's Ordering Power to bring all your interests and energies to wholeness, so that you can become all that you are intended to be. And, He can do that for you. And, he will do that for you. I have no idea what "confusions of worlds" you've brought here, today. Your family life may not 'jive' with your religious beliefs, your work may not give you time for your family. Who knows all the difficulties we've all brought here? But, there is power in the Eucharistic Lord, power in this sacrament that will begin to heal your inner brokenness. That is what Christ does. That is what our gospel reading is telling us.
And, look at our world. There is so much wonderful energy coming to the fore, but so often it is energy "out of place" and brings destruction where it should bring help. Look at the creative power of our youth; it is so wonderful. And when we channel it to goodness, it builds homes for the poor in Habitat for Humanity, it builds churches and missions in Saltillo, Monterrey or Tijuana. BUT, when it just "wanders," unchanneled, it often groups up in gangs that terrorize neighborhoods and kill each other. Think what could happen if that wonderful energy were "in the right place," channeled toward wholeness and healing! Through us and our lives, that can happen. How can we, a small inner city congregation affect young people? God will work through us. That, also, is the promise and the power of this sacrament. You are receiving God in this banquet we call "the Mass." And with the Body of Christ comes Divine Power, Divine Energy, growing wisdom and insight.
Just as God will, through this reception of Christ's body and blood, heal us, so He will, through US, heal our world. His energy will put things where they belong to bring wholeness and peace, for as the prophet said of God: "My plans for you are plans of peace."
My prayer for us, today, is that as we come to the Table of the Prince of Peace, and receive His Body and Blood, that His divine Power, His insight and strength and wisdom will work through us, bringing healing to us, our families, and our society. And may God bless you all. +
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