Ignatius House
“When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest
but, finding none, it says, ‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’
But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order.
Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits
more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there,
and the last condition of that man is worse than the first.”
(Luke 11: 24-26)
Dear Friends,
Good morning!
Luke recalls for us one of Jesus' teaching moments. When something or someone departs from the life of someone by whatever means possible, it goes about seeking another place to take up residence. But the arid regions, places where the people strive for holiness and prevent evil from their lives, gave no quarter. So the evil spirit makes it way back to where it had been with the hope that it can regain entry into that person's life. The evil spirit returns and finds a house that has been cleaned and better organized. Grace has been at work in that person's life. So evil invites other evil spirits to come because there is room in that person's house for other weaknesses and evils. As a result the person who had cleaned house must have grown lonely for the evil ways that had been in the house. Now there are several evil ways tempting the person.
Out and in. Exhale and inhale. We need to expel from our own homes any evil that takes up residence. We have to exhale the evil and breath in the good that God offers us each day.
The Church provides us with the instruments of driving the evil away and refreshing our lives with good. These aides are the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist. We have means to cleans our spiritual homes of its evils and refill it with the graces that come through the Eucharist.
This emptying and refilling is a daily challenge for most human beings. But it will not be as difficult as most would imagine as long as we make a frequent visit to the Spiritual Gas Station! Empty the evils that weigh us down and refill the spirit with the graces and good things that God puts before us. He wants to help us each day with the means to keep our spiritual houses clean and supportive to a peaceful life.
May your weekend be restful and peaceful.
Oremus pro invicem!
Fr. Milt
