Driving Out Demons January 10

First Wednesday of Ordinary Time

First Wednesday of Ordinary Time

By Melanie Rigney

Editor’s Note: Your Daily Tripod welcomes another new contributor to our web journal today. Melanie Rigney from St. Charles Borremeo, Arlington, VA, attended the 123^rd Women’s Cursillo last November at the St. Joseph Seminary. Today she gifts us with her first (of many) reflections. She plans to share with us her thoughts on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month.

Our "editorial staff " continues to grow with people who offer regular or periodic contributions. Would you like to join? We would love to share your thoughts and reflections with the rest of the Cursillo community. Perhaps you might want to pick one day during Lent to try it. De colores!

The Lighthouse Keeper

“He told them, ‘Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.’ So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.” (Mark 1:38-39)

“Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.” (Hebrews 2:18)

Piety

Lord, thank you for sharing Your Son in blood and flesh “that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14). You have freed me from the slavery of the fear of death. Help me as I slay my own demons, just as Jesus did for the faithful “throughout the whole of Galilee.”

Study

http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/011007.shtml

What are your demons? Perhaps an examination of the seven deadly sins will help you identify them: pride, greed, envy, anger, lust, gluttony, and sloth. Or perhaps the demon is what is masked by the sin—fear that masquerades as pride, for example, or self-doubt that proclaims itself as anger or lust.

It’s a frustrating thing, fighting demons. Sometimes when you think you’ve gotten them under control in one place—controlling a proclivity to gossip at work, for example—a fresh one pops up—perhaps in the envy of a neighbor’s new car. We can be especially vulnerable to pride as we congratulate ourselves or making headway in other areas.

As you struggle, winning sometimes, relearning lessons at other times, know that Jesus understands. “Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.” (Hebrews 2:18) Jesus spent forty days in the desert wrestling with Satan and emerged victorious. With his help, we can do the same.

Action

Today, do one thing that shows God you’re learning to drive out your demons. Live without the midmorning candy bar if gluttony is your demon. Clean a closet if sloth is your sin. Be mindful before speaking if anger is your burden. Write down how you felt after emerging victorious—and keep your record of that good feeling with you.