EXORCISM: EXPRESSION OF GOD'S MERCY AND COMPASSION

February 1, 2015 
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) 
Deuteronomy 18:15-20/Psalm 95/1 Corinthians 7:32-35/Mark 1:21-28 

Four years have passed since the Jesuit Communications Foundation (JESCOM) aired a documentary on ABS-CBN Channel 2 called, "Liwanag sa Dilim." (English translation: Light in Darkness) as part of the said channel's Holy Week special programming on Holy Week 2011. The documentary featured Fr. Jocis Syquia of the Archdiocese of Manila, Fr. Jojo Zerrudo of the Diocese of Cubao, and Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle of Manila (who was the Bishop of the Diocese of Imus, Cavite, at that time). The topic of the documentary? You don't have to think twice. It was a documentary on exorcism. 

I really liked the way Fr. Jojo Zerrudo described exorcism. Exorcism is not a demonstration or manifestation of God's power. It is an expression of God's love for the one being exorcised. The Lord used His power to drive out demons from the person the demons are afflicting and possessing. But, the main reason for the Lord doing this is His love, mercy and compassion towards the person being afflicted and possessed.

Exorcism is a sacrament of love. God's love is shown towards the person being afflicted by the devil in the sacrament of Exorcism. Through God's great power, the Lord commands the evil spirits to go away from the person being afflicted and leave the person being exorcised. The devil may be powerful, but the power of the Lord God is greater than the devil's power. 

In the Gospel for this Sunday, we hear that Jesus drives out a demon after teaching with authority. Jesus displays His mercy and compassion towards the person being possessed by the devil. Christ did not want to see the person being possessed by the devil any much longer. The Lord wanted the person being possessed to live freely in order to serve Him. With all His power as God, the Lord Jesus Christ exorcises the person and drives the demons away from the person. 

The whole Church, especially in the Philippines, witnessed last January the Apostolic Visit of our Holy Father Pope Francis to the Philippines. The theme of the Papal Visit to the Philippines was, "Mercy and Compassion." In a span of four days, Pope Francis showed to all the Filipinos, especially the victims of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in Leyte the mercy and compassion of God. Pope Francis, the vicar of Christ here on earth, expressed to all of us, especially the Filipino Catholics, that the Lord God is merciful and compassionate to all. 

We hear the same message in today's Sunday Gospel. Jesus displays His love, mercy and compassion towards the person being possessed. By exorcising the possessed person, He shows how much He loves the person. The Lord Jesus will not allow the person to be afflicted or enslaved by the devil. He wants us to serve Him with all freedom and free will. He will free us from our afflictions, slavery, possessions, and evil things in life. 

REFLECTIVE SONG: "Mercy and Compassion" - Aia de Leon ft. Michael Bulaong (composed by Noel Miranda)
From the Album: "MERCY AND COMPASSION: SONGS FOR POPE FRANCIS" (Jesuit Music Ministry)