'He commands even the unclean spirits'

		Living the Scriptures  with St. Paul University  Catholic Center  Stephanie Place

What demons are lurking in our lives? We all have corners of our hearts and lives that are painful, dark, wounded, unclean.

They may be hurtful relationships, painful past experiences, addiction. Very often, I see those places as stumbling blocks in my path toward Christ, but today's Gospel shows that Jesus can use even the demons in our lives to bring us grace.

The "unclean spirit" asked Jesus two questions and made one statement. First it asked "What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth?"

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Jan. 29, 2006) Dt 18:15-20 Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 7-9 1 Cor 7:32-35 Mk 1:21-28

We often look at painful experiences and wonder where God is in it all. We may not even want God to have anything to do with it. To reveal a wound to God is to risk shame, a painful healing process, or just the difficulty of admitting the wound to ourselves.

The truth is that it is in those dark, wounded, unclean places in our lives that we must recognize Jesus. We may even learn things about God's heart that we couldn't know in any other way than by bringing our wounds to Him.

Try it. You might be amazed by His strength, tenderness, or creativity.

The demon next asks, "Have you come to destroy us?" The demon asks this question out of fear of Christ's power, but the Resurrection of Christ enables us to ask it in hope. When we turn to Christ, show Him our wounds, and ask "Have you come to heal me?" the answer will always be a resounding "yes."

It may require time, it may be a difficult process, but the truth is that Christ "makes all things new." Through the love of Christ, we are being called closer to the state of wholeness and unity with God for which we were created. The wounds and dark places brought into our lives by sin will be destroyed.

"I know who you are - the Holy One of God." This one is the hardest for me to understand. Could my wounds and dark secrets really proclaim the identity of Jesus Christ?

This past year, I worked up the nerve to share some of my scariest insecurities with women of the community. Turns out that my friends not only understood, but had experienced the same things! I was able to see the face of Christ in the understanding and counsel my friends provided.

	Reflection questions • What are some of your wounds? • Are you inviting Jesus to work specifically in those places? What's holding you back?

The power of God is also revealed when we allow God to heal those dark places. How many times do the Gospels tell of the wounded and broken being restored to life and going out to praise God?

Today's Gospel shows that Jesus can cast out a demon in five words or less, with an authority that astounds the Jews. God longs to bring that power to bear on the dark, broken, and unclean places in our lives.

Stephanie Place is a junior studying biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is involved in a Bible study and women's ministry through St. Paul University Catholic Center.

St. Paul's Web site is www.stpaulscc.org

Faith Alive!

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