Matthew 8
“Seek good, not evil, that you may live.” Does this sound easy? Who does not want to do good? Or who wants evil? However, when I look at the world, I find enough people to doubt if the man has a natural ability to seek good and to avoid evil. I don’t have to go too far to find these people, because I am one of them.
Sometimes I feel it is almost impossible to do good things although I wish for good things. And I am shocked and disgusted at my wickedness when my mind and heart are filled with jealousy, resentment, vengefulness and hatred.
These are the moments, in a sense, I am possessed with unclean spirits. Then, it is painful to stand before the presence of the Lord. His radiant goodness burns my wickedness. “What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” This is what the two demoniacs shouted at Jesus in today’s gospel. Filled with evil thoughts, I tremble before the Lord. Facing Jesus is unbearable.
The only way to cast out these evils from my mind and heart is to bring myself before the Lord. And this means I must acknowledge my sinfulness and helplessness. Before the presence of the Lord, I wring and twist with throbbing and burning pain. But Christ our Lord is much stronger than our sinfulness. He casts out our evil thoughts but also heals us with forgiveness and peace. I hope you don’t need this, but I need Jesus to exorcise me every day.
