I watched a movie the other day about exorcism. I wondered if most of what is in the Bible is allegory and symbolism, then do the Catholic rites of exorcism really work? I didn’t really have an answer and I just enjoyed the movie, but the question stayed in the back of my mind for several days.
I found myself considering my relationship to God and when I did, it all came together for me. It seems like many people believe that because we are self-aware, have free-will and know the difference between right and wrong that we are God’s special creation. We are His chosen one and His children. In a way, that is true, but I think that everyone misses the point. We are servants of God. He created us to do His will. He created us to essentially be caretakers of His creation of the earth. Most people don’t seem to catch that part of the story.
Many people have trouble reconciling the wrathful God of the Old Testament with the kind and loving God of the New Testament. I don’t. God as our parent and master can be wrathful when we don’t follow Him, but His nature is to be kind and loving.
Going back to the rites of exorcism, I realized of course they work. I don’t know if there are demons out there. However, I know if a demon were to possess someone that person would need to surrender themselves to God and put Him above all others. That’s what exorcism does. When we don’t make God the only true power in our lives, then we open ourselves up to all kinds of evil. There are more evils seen and unseen in this world that my imagination hasn’t even conceived of, but I know that I am protected as long as I allow God in my heart. He won’t abandon me.
Like I have written before, there’s so much I don’t know and so much that I am uncertain about, but the one true thing that I know without doubt is God. He is my Savior, my anchor, and my God.
My faith saved me. May God’s peace reside in all of our hearts.
