This is my homily for this past weekend (as I write this, it is still late Sunday evening in the Central time zone). The readings for the weekend are here.
There are people in the world who are skeptical of these Gospel stories of Jesus healing people by expelling demons and unclean spirits. These skeptics tend to be of a scientific bent. You may have encountered some of them, either in print or online, or on television, or perhaps in real life. I’ve definitely got some skeptics in my family.
They are skeptical because expelling an evil spirit doesn’t strike us as the proper way to heal someone. The line of thought is: in those ancient, pre-scientific days of the bible, people were ignorant about the causes and cures of diseases, and so in their ignorance they turned to spiritual explanations: that gods and demons caused the ills that befall us. But – the skepticism continues – today we know better. We’re not pre-scientific. We know, through medical science, the physical causes of physical ailments; and through medical science, we are steadily making progress in curing terrible diseases. The story of medical science, in this telling, is the story of the triumph of science over faith. It's a line of thought that places faith and science in opposition to one another.
I’d like to make a brief reply to those skeptics who question whether these biblical healing stories have anything to teach us. I think they do have important lessons for us, if we’re wise enough to heed them.
Let’s start by acknowledging that part of this scientific critique of the biblical healing stories is true enough. Jesus did live in a time that would strike us as pre-scientific. That is not to say the ancient world was entirely cloaked in ignorance; within the Roman Empire there was knowledge of mathematics and geometry, and anatomy, and logic, and other eventual building blocks of the scientific method. But it’s undoubtedly true that, thanks in no small part to the Enlightenment and the scientific method, we know vastly more about healthcare and diseases today than was known in Jesus’s time.
And of course, we are the beneficiaries of all that scientific research and discoveries. We’re blessed to live today, rather than even a generation or two ago. It’s likely that among us here today are people who have survived cancer, and many of us have COVID and flu shots running through our veins at the moment to protect us from diseases that can be deadly. Of all the many, many things for which we should give thanks to God every day, the gift of our health and the curing of our physical maladies should be near the top of our lists.
But the ancients also knew things which we should not scoff at. True, their science doesn’t compare to ours, but in philosophy and wisdom they were at least our equals – perhaps even, in some ways, our superiors. And while we may possess more scientific knowledge than they did, that doesn’t make us better people than they were. We’d be wise to treat the wisdom of the ancients with respect.
One of the great blessings that the Catholic church brings to humanity is that the church is a steward of ancient wisdom, much of which is still applicable to us today, if we are wise enough and humble enough to familiarize ourselves with it.
For example – and this is pertinent to today’s Gospel reading - the church teaches us that we humans aren’t just physical beings. Rather, we are a unity of body and soul. Or, if you wish, a composite of body, mind and spirit. To say we are a unity of all these things is to say all those aspects are important, they are interconnected, and they all contribute to our well-being – or lack thereof.
Medical professionals know this, or at least part of it. They understand the interconnectedness of mind and body. They know that psychological ailments like stress and mood disorders can harm our physical health.
Jesus’s ministry brought healing to the whole human person: body, mind and soul. He healed people of physical illnesses and conditions: he cured lepers, he gave sight to a man born blind, and he healed a hemorrhaging woman. He even brought back some people from the dead. Jesus also showed concern for our mental well-being: he urged us many times not to be afraid, and he gave his distressed followers the gift of peace.
But Jesus didn’t stop there. We see in today's Gospel story that he also healed people of their spiritual illnesses. Jesus cleansed a man’s soul by expelling the unclean spirit that was afflicting it.
I'm now going to offer a critique of our times. I really think our world today is missing the boat on spiritual health. In my view, spiritual health is one of the giant blind spots of our time. I think the blind spot helps explain why so many of us are so unhappy, even though many of us have all our material needs more than satisfied. Physical well-being can’t always heal what is sick in our souls. I think the blind spot about spiritual health helps explain why there is so much rage today. I think it helps explain why our country is so divided, and our politics are so toxic. And I think it helps explain why our young people seem so adrift – not dating, not marrying, not having children of their own. It may even help explain why our lifespans are shrinking, as people die deaths of despair, through substance abuse and suicide. Our spirits are ailing, and those spiritual ailments are causing detrimental personal and social consequences. The world is starving for spiritual sustenance. It’s crying out for spiritual healing.
This is where the church comes in. The church continues Jesus’s healing ministry today in all its aspects: tending to body, mind and soul. When it comes to treating body and mind, Catholic health care is a critical component of our country’s provision of health care. In our local community, religious orders such as the Alexian Brothers and the Sisters of the Holy Family have been pillars of health care provision, and not only to other Catholics – to the entire community.
And the church, faithful to Jesus’s ministry, tends to the well-being of our spirits as well. That is one of the reasons Jesus gave us the gift of the Eucharist – to heal what troubles our spirits. It’s also why he gave us the sacraments of healing: baptism, reconciliation and the anointing of the sick. Through these sacraments, God’s grace becomes a healing presence in us, washing our sinful souls clean again. These sacraments are great gifts from Jesus to us. We’d be wise to partake of them.
Jesus’s ejection of the unclean spirit today isn’t some vestige of an ignorant past. It is not something to embarrass us or make us defensive. On the contrary, it’s a sign to us to draw close to Jesus, for our spiritual health and well-being. It may even point the way to our building a better world. By all means, let us partake of the wonders of medical science. But let us also partake of the gifts of Jesus for the healing and good health of our souls.
I like many of your general ideas here, Jim.
ReplyDeleteAs a deacon, dealing with the sick may not be in your bailiwick, but I'll throw this out there: Many people are not surviving cancer so much as managing it as a chronic disease for years or even decades. They used to call us "incurables" or "terminal patients." The language has changed for those who live in this gray area. My cancer group is full of the newly diagnosed who are terrified of the disease, the treatment, and the fact that they will always live in the shadow.
Terrified people make bad decisions, and our job is to calm them down and help them see the treatment options more clearly.
I get that the Church is not a social services organization or a psych clinic. I also get that many people have a horror of illness and don't want to be around sick people.
However, I think not complaining, not blubbering, and powering through, and pulling your weight are ideas ingrained in American culture that contribute to spiritual ill-health. American love rushing in during a catastrophe. But we are strangely unsympathetic when people are carrying a cross for a long time. Our general attitude about the sick: Don't be such a drag. I am reminded of that every time I look at the plaque someone recently gave me that says, "You did not wake up this morning to be a weak ass b*tch."
There is certainly a need for more spiritual healing for the chronically ill, and I hope parish leaders examine that when they look for ways to bring Christ to others.
Great call-out - thank you, Jean. You're right about what is ingrained in in the American psyche. The church must be counter-cultural.
DeleteJean, I think I'd ditch that plaque! You should give them back one that says "You didn't wake up this morning to be an insufferable know it all!"
DeletePeople do seem to have ADD about other people's long term health issues.
Yeah, so many of these "inspirational" things are oblique warnings to suffer in silence. I keep the plaque as a reminder to try to refrain from saying stupid things to people.
DeleteJim, good thoughts in your homily.
ReplyDeleteI have noticed in the accounts about demonic possession in the gospels, that the demons themselves almost appear to be mentally ill. They don't make rational decisions, such as the time they asked Jesus to cast them into a herd of swine, and then they proceed to run them off a cliff. Maybe they're so far down a rabbit hole of evil that they aren't capable of rational thought.
It has apparently always been Christian thought that the fallen angels blew their only chance, it was once and done. But I wonder about that, if they could be capable of repentance.
Fwiw, spiritual healing is the theme of the final episode of the latest season of Fargo. I confess I got quite a lump in my throat at the Communion imagery, which is tied up in an earlier episode with the legend of the sin eater. If there were ever an explanation of what Communion is good for, it seems to me it's right there.
ReplyDeleteI just remember a Twilight Zone episode about a sin eater. It was kind of sad and creepy. But I suppose there is some Eucharistic imagery. I think it came from a time and place where people didn't have enough to eat. The sin eater was eating the food symbolizing the sins to stay alive himself.
DeleteThe sin eating scene is an anti-Communion scene. The Communion scene comes later in the season.
DeleteI haven't watched Fargo. But I remember some scenes in Ann Rice's book, The Vampire Lestat, that were definitely anti-Communion, or maybe it would have been called reverse Viaticum.
DeleteThey are skeptical because expelling an evil spirit doesn’t strike us as the proper way to heal someone.
ReplyDeleteI am a little confused. Expelling an evil spirit is exactly the way to heal if the afflicted person is possessed by an evil spirit. Is the argument here that Jesus didn't cast out evil spirits because we know today there is no such thing as an evil spirit? Or that Jesus did cast out evil spirits, and we are too blinded by science to admit it?
I think it's accurate to say that the "official" Catholic position is that evil spirits do exist, since the Catholic Church has designated exorcists, has a rite of exorcism and, although fairly rare, exorcisms are still performed.
We see in today's Gospel story that he also healed people of their spiritual illnesses. Jesus cleansed a man’s soul by expelling the unclean spirit that was afflicting it.
I don't see authentic demonic possession (if such a thing exists) as a "spiritual illness." I believe the position of the Church is that being possessed is the result of being attacked by an evil spirit, and (just as with disease) the victim is not morally responsible unless he or she somehow invited or cooperated with the evil spirit.
David, that was my understanding too.
DeleteThese discussions make my head hurt. Where's the line between personal culpability for an evil act vs demonic possession or mental illness that results in evil acts? If you ask different Catholics to weigh in on various specific situations, they're all over the map.
DeletePersonal culpability (responsibility) is basically an insoluble problem even aside from demonic possession (which I suspect most people, including Catholics, don't really believe in). Certain drugs used to control dopamine levels in the brain occasionally have the side effect of causing compulsive gambling. I read a fascinating account of a man who was prescribed one of those drugs who began gambling and lost his job, lost his house, and wrecked his marriage. When someone had him discontinue the drug, the urge to gamble (which he had never had before) ceased. I think almost everyone would judge the man to have been the victim in such a case, but how do we know others who have an urge to gamble compulsively are not the victims of changes in brain chemistry brought on by as yet to be discovered causes? Other drugs increase the risk of suicide. How do we know there aren't other factors beyond current knowledge and control that contribute to suicide?
DeleteYes, that's the quandary that presents itself to me. With certain adjustments in our chemistry and electrical synapses could any of us be saints or demons? Recent studies in "free will" suggest that that might be a fiction.
DeleteI try not to think about it too much.
"Expelling an evil spirit is exactly the way to heal if the afflicted person is possessed by an evil spirit. Is the argument here that Jesus didn't cast out evil spirits because we know today there is no such thing as an evil spirit? Or that Jesus did cast out evil spirits, and we are too blinded by science to admit it?"
DeleteRight - I think there are a lot of people today who don't believe in the existence of evil spirits, full stop. For them, I suppose these Gospel passages amount to so much hokum. There are also people who, regardless of the views on the existence of evil spirits, doubt that they are responsible for the maladies that afflict us.
I think the guy in the story from this past Sunday needed an exorcist. The guy described in Mark 5 as the Gerasene demoniac exhibited symptoms that may strike us today as some sort of severe psychological malady:
"When [Jesus] got out of the boat, at once a man from the tombs who had an unclean spirit met him. The man had been dwelling among the tombs, and no one could restrain him any longer, even with a chain. In fact, he had frequently been bound with shackles and chains, but the chains had been pulled apart by him and the shackles smashed, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the hillsides he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones."
My own view on culpability is it's not usually a yes/no, on/off proposition. It probably makes more sense to talk about degrees of culpability. I think we tend to be too quick to condemn, or too quick to absolve. As an example: I think society (or at least the State of Illinois) tends to be too lenient on drunk drivers who cause accidents. The law seems to proceed from the assumption that, because they were inebriated, they were not fully in their right mind and therefore the punishments are reduced.
Delete"My own view on culpability is it's not usually a yes/no, on/off proposition. It probably makes more sense to talk about degrees of culpability." Jim, that would be my take on it too. I don't think free will is something we possess absolutely, but it also is something we have to varying degrees. I guess we have to leave the judgement to God.
DeleteWhat David said above about designated exorcists is true. It is my understanding that each diocese is supposed to have one or more. The situation here is that any request for the services of an exorcist has to go through the archdiocese, not directly to the priest who has that ministry. The identity of that priest is not generally known, though I would say that most of the clergy, including deacons, do know who it is. Before consent is given for exorcism to go forward, the person has to consult with a psychologist. It is not assumed that the person's problem is "not" some type of mental disorder. The priest exercising the exorcism ministry is specifically trained for it, they don't just pick someone out of the charismatic movement who thinks they have discernment of spirits.
Delete"My own view on culpability is it's not usually a yes/no, on/off proposition."
DeleteMost priests in Confession as I have experienced it just want your list of sins, and they either hand you 10 Hail Mary's for the folks in Purgatory or tell you to go pray until you're sorry enough to come back to receive absolution.
It's very legalistic.
Cradle Catholic Church Ladies will tell you cryptically to "find the right confessor," which seems to suggest that there are either more lenient priests out there or priests who probe to determine degree of culpability. But who these priests are remains a mystery to me.
My sense is that a large number of Catholics have given up on personal confession, or are just going through the laundry list--swore, impure thoughts, called in sick when I was hungover, my God I am heartily sorry for my sins, see you next Lent.
Being a good confessor is a charism. Not all priests have it. That doesn't mean they're not good people in other ways. And it's like couselors, not every one of them is a good fit for every person.
DeleteJust a couple of thoughts about picking a confessor. I wouldn't pick one who comes across as excessively ideological. And I would pick one who seems to genuinely like that ministry; who feels that it is an important way to help people, and who doesn't feel that it is a "duty" that takes up too much of his time.
DeleteSo you interview or get word of mouth info about priests in different parishes? Huh. Seems like gaming the system to me.
DeleteNo, I don't interview them and don't usually talk about it with others. I get to know them and form my own opinions about them. I had the same confessor for about 25 years. I also got to know a Benedictine priest whose thing is contemplative prayer.
DeleteI never thought of being a good confessor as a charism. Reconciliation is a sacrament that any priest is qualified to perform. No one talks about being a good baptizer or good last rites giver as a charism. Lots of how real Catholics think is opaque to me. Maybe I'm one of those people talked about in Mark 4 who can hear but not understand. That's crossed my mind many times!
DeleteJean, you are right that it is a sacrament and any priest is qualified to give absolution. If I was in a jam, and needed absolution, or last rites I would totally be okay with whoever was available. You don't even have to be a priest to baptize in an emergency, a nurse baptized my dad's infant sister who unfortunately did not live long. If we have the luxury of more time though, for better or for worse we tend to pick and choose.
DeleteJean, I have read that about 20% of Catholics go to confession once/ year and far fewer go more than that. So 8
DeleteRod Dreher wrote about his friend's wife's exorcism in The American Conservative a few years ago. It looked spousal abuse and gaslighting covered with a thin veneer of piety to me. What a dreadful man.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteYou may not want to read it, but it's here: https://www.theamericanconservative.com/devils-of-manhattan/
DeleteJean, I just saw your comments on the previous thread. Your continued thoughts and prayers are greatly needed - and very much appreciated. My husband is handling his situation better than I am. Im still an emotional wreck. I pray for you and all here every night.
ReplyDeleteStill praying for you!
DeleteThank you. I am very depressed.
DeleteI’m worried i my old iPad is dying and I can’t comment using my new ov my new one. David, ca you help?
ReplyDeleteAnne, you have an old and a new iPad and can't comment with the new one? Does it maybe have to do with what Google accounts you are using? Are you using the same or different accounts for both iPads?
DeleteIf you need to reset your password be sure to use the same email address associated with the Google account on your old tablet.
DeleteHappy Candlemas, aka, the Feast of the Presentation and blessing of candles. It's an ancient custom going back to Old English times:
ReplyDelete"Forðy on ðissum dæge wæs þæt soðe Leoht, Crist, geboren to þam temple." (For on this day was that true light, Christ, borne to the temple.)
Lights burned for five days, and then, poof, winter was over and spring started!
Only sign of spring in Michigan this early is lambing season at Michigan State University's livestock program. Used to take the boy to the lamb pens open to the public when he was little.
Maybe a good day to look for signs of renewal and hope where we are? To say prayers of thanks for what sustains us in bad times? Sorta grasping at ways to practice Jim's idea of healing the spirit, but I'm not exactly Little Mary Sunshine. Will welcome ideas!
Happy Candlemas to you, and everyone, as well! I like the feast. Mostly here they just do the Presentation readings, but occasionally, depending on which priest we have, they have the blessing of candles. I have a blessed beeswax candle that I like. The beeswax ones do burn longer, and it seems like, brighter.
DeleteI like the words of the Canticle of Simeon, the Nunc Dimitis said at Compline, , "... a light to reveal you to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel".
The days are getting longer.. I was reading that we get about 65 minutes more of daylight here during February.
Sort of funny story, when my older son was in about 4th grade religious ed class, he had a teacher who was given to rather colorful narratives. When she told the Presentation story, she had it that when Simeon said "Now let your servant go in peace, your word has been fulfilled..." Simeon keeled over dead on the spot. We told him, no the scripture doesn't actually say that, and it was unlikely that it happened that way. He seemed .disappointed that it was less dramatic.
DeleteWell, of course he was disappointed! Hagiographers love to have people fall down dead at key moments, which makes the story so much more memorable and keeps it alive. As my Gramma used to say when she got to reminiscing, no sense letting mere facts ruin a good story.
Delete