HOLY ONE

A sermon preached at Lyonsville Congregational United Church of Christ on January 29, 2012 (Fourth Sunday after Epiphany)

1 Samuel 18:6-12

They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, "What is this? A new teaching--with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee. - Mark 1:21-28

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One of the things that makes reading the Bible a challenge at times is that it was written in a place and time much different from our own. Reading the gospel of Mark is a challenge for modern people because of the very different understanding of how the world works that is reflected in the text. Many ancient people believed in a spiritual world – with good spirits and evil spirits that could affect people in this world. Human illness was sometimes believed to be caused by evil spirits causing havoc in people’s lives. Part of what happens in the gospel of Mark is a conflict between Jesus – who had God’s “holy spirit” fully alive in him – and evil or unclean spirits that possessed many other people.

Modern medicine doesn’t believe in evil spirits. There is no scientific evidence that spirits exist – living entities without bodies that can get into people. Scientists have found that many human diseases are caused by tiny, living organisms such as bacteria, viruses, or defective cells. It is a very different understanding of how our world works from the time the Bible was written.

There is no evidence for evil spirits. And yet… they still torment us, and drive our lives. They don’t exist, but they still cause havoc in our lives. My guess is that all of us have suffered from “unclean spirits” at some time in our lives.

What Mark called “unclean spirits” might include feelings of being unloved, and unlovable. Not being good enough to please those whose approval we crave. Being different, or unpopular. It can be fits of jealousy (like Saul). Or memories of bad relationships, or the trauma of abuse or violence. Guilt, or shame, or fear. It can be suspicions of those who are different from us – racism, or homophobia. When these feelings and emotions get into us, like unclean spirits, they can cause us to do things we know aren’t healthy, but we can’t seem to stop: Overwork, overeating, drug use, promiscuity, compulsive behaviors, self-harm, addictions. They can actually cause in people a feeling of being possessed by something they can’t control, but that controls them instead.

I know I have done some stupid things in my life to win the affection of others. I have my moments of self-doubt, when I wonder whether I am really any good at being a minister and a pastor – not because of any lack of gratitude on the part of those I minister to, but just because the results don’t always seem to match my aspirations, or because of envy of others. Unclean spirits.

During the season of Advent I played some recordings of pieces from Handel’s Messiah. Today, I would like to play for you a music video that is much more recent. This is a song that is popular right now – a piece called “Shake It Out” by Florence and the Machine. It isn’t exactly sacred music, but it expresses that feeling of being haunted or possessed by unhealthy spirits – a feeling that I’m sure many people, young and old, have experienced.  (The lyrics are included at the end of this sermon text). The singer doesn’t go into many specifics about the demons that haunt her – they may be regrets from past relationships, and an inability to forgive herself. But she knows that they keep her in bondage, and she wants to be free of them.

(Play music video – click on this link:)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbN0nX61rIs&ob=av2e

I don’t pretend to know the meaning of everything in the lyrics, the music, or the video. I think the masked people represent those who have mistreated her – the devils that may even be inside of her. The dancing represents freedom.

But this song expresses a hope that one can get rid of those unclean spirits by sheer determination – “Shake them out.” Unfortunately, unclean spirits can be much more stubborn than that. Sometimes they require therapy, or perhaps medication under a doctor’s supervision. But an important source of healing that can cast out unclean spirits is the Holy Spirit of God that is embodied in Jesus. It may not work immediately – but there is nothing like the boundless, unconditional love of God, God’s grace and mercy, and God’s peace for chasing out the demons. We have to experience living in it, breathing it, in worship and prayer.

When we know – deep in our core – that we are loved by God, we are less frantic about trying to be loved by others. When we know that God offers us forgiveness, we can forgive ourselves. When we know the peace of God that passes understanding, we can find healing for even the deepest wounds and traumas.

We can find freedom – freedom to make our own healthy choices, to love without needing to be loved in return, to serve God and neighbor.

Jesus offers us amazing good news in offering us freedom from the unclean spirits that haunt us. But the gospel story tells another truth – that many people, although claiming to desire to be rid of their demons, may still resist getting the help they need. I think many people experience a fascination with the love and power that they see at work in Jesus. Our own spirits may desire that holy spirit that God intended for us when we were created. But the unclean spirits resist the Holy One of God, because they know it is their destruction. It is a sad fact that many people in abusive relationships will not leave their abusers because they can’t imagine life without them. Similarly, I think many people whose lives are driven by unclean spirits will not let them go, because they can’t imagine living without them.

Our churches, too, can be infected with a spirit of fear, of despair, or of jealousy. It is Christ, the Holy One of God, who has authority over all of these, and who promises us life.

What about you? What drives your life? Is it a holy spirit that brings you satisfaction and joy, or an unclean spirit that only leaves you feeling worse about yourself? We are willing to spend billions of dollars and risk people’s lives to win freedom from other people – are we willing to come to Jesus to find freedom from our own demons? May we be open to the new life that Christ offers us.

Amen.

Robert J. von Trebra

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Lyrics to “Shake It Out”

by Florence and the Machine

Regrets collect like old friends
Here to relive your darkest moments
I can see no way, I can see no way
And all of the ghouls come out to play
And every demon wants his pound of flesh
But I like to keep some things to myself
I like to keep my issues drawn
It's always darkest before the dawn

And I've been a fool and I've been blind
I can never leave the past behind
I can see no way, I can see no way
I'm always dragging that horse around
And our love is pastured such a mournful sound
Tonight I'm gonna bury that horse in the ground
So I like to keep my issues drawn
But it's always darkest before the dawn

Refrain:

Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh
Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh
And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back
So shake him off, ohh

I am done with my graceless heart
So tonight I'm gonna cut it out and then restart
Cause I like to keep my issues drawn
It's always darkest before the dawn       (over)

Refrain

It’s hard to dance with a devil on your back

And given half the chance would I take any of it back
It's a fine romance but its left me so undone
It's always darkest before the dawn

And I'm damned if I do and I'm damned if I don't
So here's to drinks in the dark at the end of my rope
And I'm ready to suffer and I'm ready to hope
It's a shot in the dark and right at my throat
Cause looking for heaven, found the devil in me
Looking for heaven, found the devil in me
Well what the hell I'm gonna let it happen to me

Refrain