The Fly Swatter

 

 

Recently I was listening to a Catholic priest on a podcast discussing Jesus casting out a demon in someone. The demon spoke to Christ about knowing he was God among us, (Mathew 8:28-34). The priest continued connecting the dots that demons are among us daily.  It got me thinking about demons in me.  How can this be?  I try to live a good life, I try to do the right thing and be kind to my friends, family and others I encounter daily.  Demons in ME?????  There could not be any demons in me, surely, he was talking about those who have been arrested for murder and arson and adultery and violating all those other commandments.  But as I pondered those things it dawned on me sin is sin and the demons do not care as long as they accomplish their mission to turn our hearts away from God.  

Have you ever been praying the Rosary and while moving through the Hail Mary’s other thoughts enter your mind like wondering what is for lunch?   Or contemplating a project you are planning, or a phone call you need to make?   I don’t, know about you, but it sure happens to me far too often.  Even during mass as a priest stands before us sharing his homily our minds can drift to where we want to go or what to do after mass.  Have you ever been deep in prayer, requesting God to heal a friend or requesting him to watch over your children and grandchildren and suddenly a random thought pops into your mind, did I forget to file that report at work or did I lay something out for dinner.  Well my friends I believe that is the demons working to distract us from God.  Yes, as sure as God is in heaven and Christ came and died on the cross the demons are hard at work.   Sin is sin no matter what. The one and only chance for forgiveness and eternal life is the grace of our Lord and Savior.   

Some find it uncomfortable thinking there might be demons working in our lives, and I am among those people, but if we live life believing in God, we must live life believing demons are among us.  We must reject them and the only way we can reject them is with Gods mercy and grace.  It is a simple process. Just turn your heart toward God and he will do the rest.  As we read the scripture, we understand the Jesus casting out the demon took place over two thousand years ago.  Were there more demons when Christ walked the earth?  Were the demons more active then, did they show their face a little more back then?  The answer is a resounding NO!  They are among us today in great numbers.  They are all around just waiting on the slightest crack.  They are like the common house fly, if you leave the door open for two seconds three of them fly into your home. Once they are in they become elusive and you have to chase them all over the house with a flyswatter.   After you think you have exterminated the last one, bam, one flies across the tv screen. Like the house fly if you do not get rid of those two or three, they will multiply exponentially and soon they will control your life.  Keep the demon swatter, which is Jesus, close to you.  Jesus is only chance we have to exterminate them but remember try your best to shut the door as quick as you can and prevent them from entering in the first place.