Sunday Homily, August 20, 2017, 20th, Ordinary Time
Says Ben, "Welcome in, Everybody."
Readings:
Isaiah 56, 1, 6-7, A house of prayer for all peoples.
Psalm 67, Oh God, let all the nations praise you.
Roman s 11, 13-15, 29-32, I am speaking to you Gentiles
Matthew 15, 21-28, My daughter is tormented by a demon.
Likewise, Sydney & Hugh say, "Come right in, Folks."
Isaiah 56 observations:
As soon as you see Isaiah, chapter 56, you know some things, if you are into the study of the Bible and especially of Isaiah, my favorite.
- Isaiah 56 is Isaiah 3, chapter 56-66, the end of the book of Isaiah.
- Isaiah 3 is put together after the Babylonian Captivity, that is, around 555 before Christ.
- The Israelites have returned to Jerusalem, a totally destroyed, depressed city.
- Therefore, it is plausible to expect Isaiah 3 to be trying to lift up the spirits of the people. This he does, consoling the people with promises of a better time. Note: the better days are conditional on good behavior. Ever think of how our whole redemption story is conditional? Not much unconditional love. In other words, if you want my love and favor, behave.
Sez Leo, "I am ready, let's go!"
Goofy Myths
This morning I would like to talk about myths, wako beliefs, and superstitions. Myths are human efforts to explain the unexplainable, like what happens to me after death, how did the world begin, and when or how is the world going to end.
There could be no better time to talk about myths, because guess what we have tomorrow. An eclipse of the sun. Today we understand what is happening because we have telescopes and an understanding of how objects are moving in space.
It don't get better than this. The Gerwers are here. Brady, Cameron, Casey, Trey, and Reid.
However, long ago the Greeks, to take one example, believed the myth that the eclipse was a sign that the gods were mad and that disaster was about to take place, even the end. The ancient myths held that the eclipse was demon caused and that the eclipse was an evil omen.
Today it still may be believed that the eclipse is a danger to an unborn child and even to the mother. The wisdom, therefore, says ‘don’t get pregnant before an eclipse.
Long time Best Buddies, John & Leo.
The truth in all these myths is that the eclipse is not caused by angry gods, is not a bad omen, disaster is not about to take place, and there is no effect on an unborn child or the mother.
The only truth is that the sun, even a sliver of it, will burn your eyes if you look at it and you will go blind.
Our Candle Man of The Week, Ben.
There are food myths, too, folks. For example, raw carrots are better for you than cooked carrots. Vitamin C wards off colds. Coconut oil is good for your health. Not so to all.
And, of course, the great myth that regular consumption of Blue Bell will cause weight gain. Oops, come to think about it, maybe it is true. Just wishful thinking.
Two more long time Best Buddies, Zoe with her grandfather, Gil
All of this I mention as a way of setting up what I would finally like to touch, the subject of Matthew’s story, the little girl possessed by a demon. For centuries there has been the myth that people, adults and even children, have been possessed by demons. The belief still lives. Despite the movie The Exorcist, this is not true. People are not possessed by demons.
There is a psychological explanation for a person showing these symptoms. There are two ways to explain the situation, disassociation and multiple personality. I have only worked with adults who present symptoms which are really odd behaviors. This is because the person, who has been severely abused as a child presents multiple personalities. One personality may present like a demon, another as a 10 year old child, another as a talented corporate executive.
Two more long time Best Buddies, Mary & Mike.
Apparently I have the ability when I am being hurt to go to an out of body place where I am not hurt. This can lock itself in place.
The people I worked with who had this diagnosis, if they had been told they were demon possessed, awful. And maybe some uneducated priest tried to do an exorcism. This did not help them at all. In fact, they were sure they were condemned. Victimized again.
From Best Buddies to The Best Music, Shonda, Ben, & David.
Therefore, my position is that there is no possession by devils. In fact, there are no devils.
Rosemary says to me, "Why do you want to talk about this subject? My answer, 'To take away or lessen fear.'
We have a God of unconditional love. Believe it?
The Elevation.