Today, rather than focusing on the entire Gospel passage, I’d like to look at the end of this passage.
“When an unclean spirit goes out of someone,
it roams through arid regions searching for rest
but, finding none, it says,
‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’
But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order.
Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits
more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there,
and the last condition of that man is worse than the first.” Luke 11:24-26
Let’s not look at the demonic per se, or focus on demons and exorcisms. Rather, let’s look at some basics in the spiritual life. When does an “unclean spirit” go out from someone, from me, from you? Most of our sins don’t just leave on their own. They must be “swept” out. As a Catholic, I call this confession. When I go to confession, any and all “unclean spirits” are cast out. I get a fresh start. My sins are forgiven. Things are “clean and put in order.“
Yet, when those temptations come around again, if I’ve done nothing to block the windows and doors (ears, eyes, mind, heart, etc.) the “unclean spirit” says, “hey, there’s room for more of us!” And so, my unguarded heart, has no defenses in place. In the end, “the last condition of that man (me) is worse than the first.” Again, off to confession I go.
For me, it looks like this:
Confession – swept clean
- Sloth – through laziness, I neglect to have a regular prayer life
- Gluttony – I’ve stopped feeding my soul (#1), so I focus on feeding my body
- Lust – weakened in both spiritual and physical discipline, I turn to more base desires
- Greed – in this weak state, I’m not happy with what I have and so I want more and more
- Envy – not only do I want more, I’m resentful of those who have what I do not
- Anger – at myself for being so sinful and this manifests as anger against others (often those I am supposed to love)
- Pride – I’m beyond God’s help, despair settles in like a dark fog.
After these “seven other spirits” enter in, my soul is in torment. When I finally hit rock bottom and cannot take the spiritual pain anymore, I craw back to confession. And then, I repeat the cycle…over and over…for years…for decades. What am I doing? What am I missing?
After Confession I imagine myself to be in this verse, “When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe.” That’s me, right? I’m the strong man, fully armed, guarding the palace of my heart, right? This is the trick of the devil. He lulls me into thinking I’m the strong man. He’s like a bully towering above a weakling yet feigning weakness himself. “Oh, look at you, Jim! You just went to confession! How ever will I now contend with you? You are the strong man! Oh no! I’m being swept away…” But he doesn’t leave, he just hides around the corner and sends fatigue, doubt, temptation. I grow weak and welcome Sloth, Gluttony, and all of their friends.
I’m not the Strong Man. I’m a weak sinful man. Sneaky pride (Satan: see his comment in the above paragraph) tricks me into thinking I’m strong after confession. What I need is the “Stronger Man” standing outside the door of my heart and soul. Better yet, inside!! Only He is strong enough. Only He is perpetually vigilant. Only He, .”..attacks and overcomes him (Satan), he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils.“
Just as Satan and his minions cannot succeed if they are divided against one another, I cannot succeed if I am divided against the Lord. “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. (Luke 11:23)”
Lord, I cannot do this on my own. Teach me to call upon you for everything. When those unclean spirits appear at my doorstep, prompt me to cry out to you for help. Give me the courage to pray when I feel slothful. Give me the strength to fast when I am tempted to gluttony. Give me purity when I am tempted to be unchaste. Inspire me to be thankful when prodded by greed. Give me joy for the blessings of others when envy rears her ugly head. Give me peace at the first spark of anger. Teach me humility at every moment.
Would you like to learn more about the devil’s playbook? I highly recommend the following:
- The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis – an “insider’s” view of the tricks of the devil.
- Are You Aware of the Spiritual War Around You – waking up to the spiritual reality
- Understanding Sin: Building Spiritual Fences
- The Kingdom of God Within: Understanding Spiritual Warfare
James M. Hahn, Author 