Wednesday, September 11 (August 29), 2024
2Cor. 6:11-16; Mk. 1:23-28                                           

The daemon was praising the Lord, and He replied: “Be quiet and come out of him” [Mk. 1:24-25].  No matter what they say or do, daemons never have good intentions: they always mean to cause harm.  Such was also the case here, and the Savior, unwilling to waste His words on a dialog with an evil spirit, just commanded: “Be quiet and come out”.

This is a lesson for us.  No later than we do just a little good, the daemon is right here, praising and flattering us.  Don’t listen to him, don’t talk to him, but reply firmly: “Be quiet and come out” ─ and cleanse that spot in your soul with self-reproach, supplication and prayer. 

The daemon’s goal is to boost your self-esteem and self-respect, to fan them into pride and vainglory ─ feelings and thoughts which can be compared with thieves in our material life.  Just as thieves would sneak into a house and steal valuables, these daemonic feelings would take their roots in your soul and destroy anything good in it, leaving nothing worthy of God’s praise.

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