Demons and Denial

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, invite us to seek a new perception of our relationship to people and our social and political environment.

Danger in Denial

The Reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians proclaims The True Wisdom.

* [2:13] In spiritual terms: the Spirit teaches spiritual people a new mode of perception (1 Cor 2:12) and an appropriate language by which they can share their self-understanding, their knowledge about what God has done in them. The final phrase in 1 Cor 2:13 can also be translated “describing spiritual realities to spiritual people,” in which case it prepares for 1 Cor 2:14–16.

* [2:14] The natural person: see note on 1 Cor 3:1.

* [2:15] The spiritual person…is not subject to judgment: since spiritual persons have been given knowledge of what pertains to God (1 Cor 2:11–12), they share in God’s own capacity to judge. One to whom the mind of the Lord (and of Christ) is revealed (1 Cor 2:16) can be said to share in some sense in God’s exemption from counseling and criticism. (1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 145 declares that God’s mighty acts show forth divine kingship.

* [Psalm 145] A hymn in acrostic form; every verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Acrostic poems usually do not develop ideas but consist rather of loosely connected statements. The singer invites all to praise God (Ps 145:1–3, 21). The “works of God” make God present and invite human praise (Ps 145:4–7); they climax in a confession (Ps 145:8–9). God’s mighty acts show forth divine kingship (Ps 145:10–20), a major theme in the literature of early Judaism and in Christianity. (Psalms, PSALM 145 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Luke presents The Cure of a Demoniac.

* [4:31–44] The next several incidents in Jesus’ ministry take place in Capernaum and are based on Luke’s source, Mk 1:21–39. To the previous portrait of Jesus as prophet (Lk 4:16–30) they now add a presentation of him as teacher (Lk 4:31–32), exorcist (Lk 4:32–37, 41), healer (Lk 4:38–40), and proclaimer of God’s kingdom (Lk 4:43).

* [4:34] What have you to do with us?: see note on Jn 2:4. Have you come to destroy us?: the question reflects the current belief that before the day of the Lord control over humanity would be wrested from the evil spirits, evil destroyed, and God’s authority over humanity reestablished. The synoptic gospel tradition presents Jesus carrying out this task. (Luke, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)

Kathy Kemler is reminded by the quote, (often attributed to Pierre Teilhard de Chardin) “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience”. When we attend to our spirit and take note of how we are being to ourselves, to God and to others, we can quickly notice what spirit is living inside in that moment.

Wow, might it be true that if we are conscious of our spiritual nature of Christ given to us in baptism, and allow that spirit to be within us and work through us that we might actually manifest these beautiful characteristics of God listed in the psalm? And what a beautiful world we might have if all of us could do that together. We would truly have peace on earth. The quote often attributable to Nelson Mandela encourages us, we must “Be the change we want to see in the world”. The desire planted in my heart today is to ask for the grace that I might be open to allow the spirit of Christ to be in me, to work through me so that I may experience that love and compassion and pour it out into the world. I invite you to find what’s in your heart and ask God for the grace to live into it. (Kemler, 2026)

Don Schwager “New creation begins on the Sabbath,” by Ambrose of Milan, 339-397 A.D.

"He describes the works of divine healing begun on the sabbath day, to show from the outset that the new creation began where the old creation ceased. He showed us that the Son of God is not under the law but above the law, and that the law will not be destroyed but fulfilled (Matthew 5:17). For the world was not made through the law but by the Word, as we read: 'By the Word of the Lord were the heavens established' (Psalm 33:6). Thus the law is not destroyed but fulfilled, so that the renewal of humankind, already in error, may occur. The apostle too says, 'Stripping yourselves of the old man, put on the new, who was created according to Christ' (Colossians 3:9-10, Ephesians 4:22,24). He fittingly began on the sabbath, that he may show himself as Creator. He completed the work that he had already begun by weaving together works with works. (excerpt from EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 4.58) (Schwager, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the texts today. In the Reading from First Corinthians, Paul speaks about the Spirit. In Corinth the difficulty was a belief that the Spirit is superior to Christ. Corinthian ideas that Incarnation is decadent are addressed in presenting that the Spirit teaches how to have the mind of Christ. It is the Spirit who leads us to Christ and the deepest knowledge. When we experience “It rings true” it is the Spirit whispering to our being. In the passage from Luke, Jesus exorcises a demon in Capernaum. The demon, as a spiritual being, knows who Jesus is. Illness was considered as a form of possession in the ancient world. Friar Jude exhorts us to call upon Jesus to defeat the evil one. We have to hold on to Christ and remember Satan is a creature and God is the Creator.

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 4:31-37 comments that Jesus continues to announce that the kingdom of God is at hand, through his living word in Scripture, through the witness of his life, and through the living example of his followers today.

Jesus longs for you to listen to his teachings with an open heart, just as the people of Capernaum did. So open your Bible and ponder his words. Listen closely to the words proclaimed in the Mass readings. Use your imagination to picture him living and acting in your midst today. By pondering his words and the way he lived, you’ll come to love him more and you’ll want to imitate him. Jesus really is better than even the best teacher you’ve ever had!

“Lord, help me to open my heart to your teachings!” (Meditation on Luke 4:31-37, n.d.)

Father Richard Rohr introduces public theologian Nadia Bolz-Weber who highlights how Jesus’ teaching on “carrying your cross” was not intended to increase the suffering of those on the margins.

Maybe like you, I struggle with how this denying ourselves thing is good news.  And not just because of how that verse about picking up your cross has been perverted into messages like deny your Queerness, pick up your cross of heterosexuality and follow him. Or deny your dignity and pick up your cross of continued domestic abuse and follow him. 

Recently I’ve been wondering: if, when Jesus says deny yourself and follow me, that maybe it’s not about ensuring his followers are doormats. Maybe he’s inviting us to deny the part of us that wants to see itself as separate from God and others. (Rohr, n.d.)

We implore the Spirit to come and fill our hearts with Love and desire to work to bring all the siblings of Jesus together.

References

Kemler, K. (2026, September 1). Daily Reflection September 1, 2026 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved September 1, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-september-1-2026 

Luke, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 1, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/4?31 

Meditation on Luke 4:31-37. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved September 1, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/09/01/1660701/ 

1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved September 1, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/2?10 

Psalms, PSALM 145 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 1, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/145? 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). The Cross of Self-Sufficiency. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved September 1, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-cross-of-self-sufficiency/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). His Word Was with Authority and Power. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved September 1, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Grace, Mercy and Renewal

The text from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invites us to consider how acting with grace and mercy spreads the message of Jesus Way in our environment.

Justice and Mercy

The Reading from the Prophet Malachi proclaims the Messenger of the Covenant.

* [3:1] My messenger…before me: Mt 11:10 applies these words to John the Baptist; Mt 11:14 further identifies John as Elijah (see Mal 3:23). Some take God’s messenger in v. 1a to be a person distinct from “the lord” and “the messenger of the covenant” in v. 1b; others hold that they are one and the same person. Some consider “the lord” and “the messenger of the covenant” to be divine, while others hold that in the text’s literal sense he is a messianic earthly ruler.

* [3:23] Elijah: taken up in a whirlwind, according to 2 Kgs 2:11. Here his return seems to be foretold. A Jewish tradition interpreted this literally; the gospels saw Elijah in the person of John the Baptist (Mt 11:13–14; 17:10–13; Mk 9:9–13). (Malachi, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 25 expresses confidence in God who forgives and guides.

* [Psalm 25] A lament. Each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Such acrostic Psalms are often a series of statements only loosely connected. The psalmist mixes ardent pleas (Ps 25:1–2, 16–22) with expressions of confidence in God who forgives and guides. (Psalms, PSALM 25 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Luke proclaims the Birth of John the Baptist. 

* [1:57–66] The birth and circumcision of John above all emphasize John’s incorporation into the people of Israel by the sign of the covenant (Gn 17:1–12). The narrative of John’s circumcision also prepares the way for the subsequent description of the circumcision of Jesus in Lk 2:21. At the beginning of his two-volume work Luke shows those who play crucial roles in the inauguration of Christianity to be wholly a part of the people of Israel. At the end of the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 21:20; 22:3; 23:6–9; 24:14–16; 26:2–8, 22–23) he will argue that Christianity is the direct descendant of Pharisaic Judaism.

* [1:59] The practice of Palestinian Judaism at this time was to name the child at birth; moreover, though naming a male child after the father is not completely unknown, the usual practice was to name the child after the grandfather (see Lk 1:61). The naming of the child John and Zechariah’s recovery from his loss of speech should be understood as fulfilling the angel’s announcement to Zechariah in Lk 1:13, 20. (Luke, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)

Greg Dyche considers Zechariah, who has also been silenced for doubting and looks at the meaning of biblical names. Zechariah means “Yahweh Remembers”, and Elizabeth can mean “Yahweh’s Oath”.

When the baby’s name is doubted, “Yahweh Remembers” asks for a tablet to write on. The old law, symbolically represented by Zechariah (a Levite), written on tablets, was silenced until the new law, written on a tablet, was given. What’s the new law? What does John’s name mean? Grace.

Grace, the son of Yahweh-Remembers and Yahweh’s-Oath, was born six months ago. Mary is due any day. The silence is broken. The tablet is written. The Way is being prepared. And I can’t wait. (Dyche, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes The parallels between John and Jesus, by Ephrem the Syrian (306-373 AD)

"The elderly Elizabeth gave birth to the last of the prophets, and Mary, a young girl, to the Lord of the angels. The daughter of Aaron gave birth to the voice in the desert (Isaiah 63:9), but the daughter of David to the strong God of the earth. The barren one gave birth to him who remits sins, but the Virgin gave birth to him who takes them away (John 1:29). Elizabeth gave birth to him who reconciled people through repentance, but Mary gave birth to him who purified the lands of uncleanness. The elder one lit a lamp in the house of Jacob, his father, for this lamp itself was John (John 5:35), while the younger one lit the Sun of Justice (Malachi 4:2) for all the nations. The angel announced to Zechariah, so that the slain one would proclaim the crucified one and that the hated one would proclaim the envied one. He who was to baptize with water would proclaim him who would baptize with fire and with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11). The light, which was not obscure, would proclaim the Sun of Justice. The one filled with the Spirit would proclaim concerning him who gives the Spirit. The priest calling with the trumpet would proclaim concerning the one who is to come at the sound of the trumpet at the end. The voice would proclaim concerning the Word, and the one who saw the dove would proclaim concerning him upon whom the dove rested, like the lightning before the thunder." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON TATIAN'S DIATESSARON 1.31) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 1:57-66 comments that Zechariah’s inability to speak likely caused him to step away from his priestly duties, which gave him more time for prayer and contemplation. And with no voice, he was more open to listening to the Holy Spirit. What a blessing that was!

How are you doing at listening—to the Spirit or to other people? Especially this week, are there ways God is calling you to slow down and ponder his word and his promises? You don’t need a major event like Zechariah’s to silence you. You can choose to do it on your own. And as you’ll see in tomorrow’s Gospel, the blessings that will flow can be unimaginable!

“Jesus, give me a listening heart!” (Meditation on Luke 1:57-66, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that the Malachi passage speaks about a messenger to separate the good from the bad fulfilled as Elijah and later in John the Baptist. In the Gospel of Luke Elizabeth wants to name her baby, John “God is merciful”. Zechariah signals His name is John after not believing the power of his own prayers. After a time of silence he is able to proclaim God’s will. Friar Jude notes the proclamation in the Benedictus, the canticle following in Luke’s Gospel.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, cites Theologian Ursula King who considers the wisdom of the Jesuit priest, scientist, and mystic Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881–1955), who considered Christ’s incarnation in the physical world. King summarizes Teilhard’s contribution to an expansive understanding of Christ’s Incarnation.

In one sense Teilhard’s vision was a uniquely personal one…. Yet he also knew that the importance and strength of this vision transcended the limits of his own life, that it could fire people’s imagination, inspire their efforts, and give them hope…. His vision of the dignity of human life embedded in the larger web of cosmic life, his emphasis on global responsibility, action and choice in shaping the future of humanity on our planet, and the need for life-affirming spiritual goals can inspire people of all beliefs and none. For Christians Teilhard de Chardin is a remarkable, shining example of creative Christian renewal that believes in life, affirms life as a task to be done, a work to be achieved, and celebrates life as a most precious and wonderful gift to be loved and experienced as a sign of the Spirit who sustains us all. [3] (Rohr, n.d.)

We prepare to celebrate the Nativity of Christ and rejoice in the Spirit that motivates our acceptance of the gifts of grace, mercy and renewal.

References

Dyche, G. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved December 23, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-december-23-2025 

Luke, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 23, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/1? 

Malachi, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 23, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/malachi/3 

Meditation on Luke 1:57-66. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved December 23, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/12/23/1449903/ 

Psalms, PSALM 25 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 23, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/25?4 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved December 23, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/inspired-by-the-christ/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). What Then Will This Child Be? Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved December 23, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/