Tuesday of the
Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
(I Corinthians 2:10b-16; Luke 4:31-37)
Medical authorities note that the misuse of opioid drugs
has reached epidemic proportions. Easy access
to an assortment of prescribed and illicit opium derivatives is having drastic
consequences. Drug overdose is the
leading cause of death for Americans under fifty years of age. Life expectancy for Americans has decreased
in the last few years because of the epidemic.
In today’s gospel Jesus uses his authority to overcome the power of
drives like opioid addiction.
Jesus has come from Nazareth where he announced that his
anointing to bring relief to the oppressed.
He is confronted by a man who is said to have an “unclean demon.” Although demons are commonly thought today to
be living spirits, in ancient times they were often associated with inner compulsions. An unclean demon could be a psychological or
emotional drive for contact with decomposed matter, excrement, or forbidden
food. Jesus’ command forces this demon
to leave the besieged soul.
Facing people with opioid addiction or any uncontrollable
inner drive, we should turn to Jesus. Prayer
will have positive effect on the affected.
It may take a while and may not be experienced completely at once, but
Jesus will bring relief. Of course,
prayer as a spiritual resource should not exclude medical assistance and
emotional support. God works in harmony
with nature to bring us salvation.
