What have you to do with us?

What have you to do with us? Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany - January 31, 2021 - Deuteronomy 18:15-20 - Psalm 111 - 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 - Mark 1:21-28 There is no doubt in my mind that there is evil in this world in which we live. It's hard to deny this. We see it daily in the news. We experience it daily in our lives. It affects us personally, it affects our families, friends, co-workers, governments, churches. Addictions, systemic racism, poverty surround us. Today's scripture speaks of a time when Jesus cast out demons, or unclean spirits to be accurate, do we simply reinterpret that to be, "He healed them of their mental illness?" I looked for information about demons, and I found a list of named demons on one website. And there at the top of the list was Acham, the demon of Thursday. I never knew there was a demon of Thursday. But there it was. There was also a demon assigned to Friday and, oddly enough, one for Sunday. But the other days of the week didn't have one. Most people think Monday is the day of the week that is most demonic, probably. "I Don't like Mondays" is the title of a song by the Boomtown Rats and Bob Geldolf, before he was a Sir. Geldolf. He got the idea for the song from a news report that came across the teletype while he and his band were being interviewed at Georgia State University. Over forty years ago, there was an elementary school shooting in San Diego, California. Two adults and eight children were killed and one police officer was wounded. The violence shocked the nation. This incident was before Columbine and Virginia Tech and what seems like countless events. The shooter was a high school student named Brenda Ann Spencer who lived across the street from the school. The only explanation she ever gave for committing the act was, "I don't like Mondays." We ascribe the title demonic to an incomprehensible evil. Sometimes it is used as a way to avoid responsibility, which is why many of us are reluctant to use a word like demon when speaking of human actions. But it also reminds us that there are "powers and principalities" that are beyond our understanding. It reminds us that there is evil in the world greater than the total of the evil that resides in human hearts. Our response to such a realization is either to live in fear and suspicion of everyone and everything or to stand against such evil with the power of our Savior wrapped up in the community of faith. We are called to no longer stay silent in the face of injustice and oppression perpetrated against a group of people because of the color of their skin, because of the social or economic circumstances. On any day, we too might fall. "What have you to do with us, Jesus?" The demon's question might be on our lips as well. This Christ comes to change everything, every broken thing about us. But by the grace of God any day, whether it is Thursday, or Monday, any day can be an opportunity to make a stand and cast out evil. Jesus comes to us, offering healing and hope, speaking and acting with authority. Listen to him. Go into this world, confident in God's love and healing power. Go in peace and may God's love and peace always be with you. AMEN.