Silencing the Demons
This is the text of the sermon preached on February 8, 2009 at Church of the Good Shepherd, United Methodist. “Silencing the Demons” Isaiah 40:21-31; Mark 1:29-39 Fifth Sunday of Epiphany, “B” February 8, 2009 “And Jesus cast out many demons, and would not allow them to speak, because they knew him.” (Mark 1:34) Oh, dear – what shall we do with this? Demons? Really? We got them last week, too, remember? Jesus cast a demon out of a man in the synagogue who interrupted him. What is this about? We just don’t think in those terms now. Does that mean we set aside each passage that mentions demons? If not, then what do we do? Does anyone else get stuck with images from The Exorcist in their head when they hear passages like that? Anybody else witness a tantrum from a youngster in a public place and think to themselves, “Well, I’m glad MY child isn’t like little Damien there?” Yet here we are with demons showing up in Marks gospel over and over, and yet the concept is almost a joke to us now....