“The wound is the place where the Light enters you.”

“This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly... Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless... and not turning your back on your own. Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed – The Prophet Isaiah

Gospel Text: (LK 4:38-44)
After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon.
Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever,
and they interceded with him about her.
He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her.
She got up immediately and waited on them.

At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him.
He laid his hands on each of them and cured them.
And demons also came out from many, shouting, “You are the Son of God.”
But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak
because they knew that he was the Christ.

At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place.
The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him,
they tried to prevent him from leaving them.
But he said to them, “To the other towns also
I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God,
because for this purpose I have been sent.”
And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

"You are no good. You will never amount to anything. God doesn't love you. You are unlovable." Recognize this voice? It is the voice of the devil, the liar, he whom Jesus called the "murderer from the beginning."

There seems to be a lot of curiosity about demons from popular culture, but it is important to remember that, "the power of Satan is, nonetheless, not infinite. He is only a creature, powerful from the fact that he is pure spirit, but still a creature. He cannot prevent the building up of God's reign." (Catechism of the Catholic Church 395).

I like to think of demons as bugs - easily squashed by Jesus, however bacteria often attach themselves to us by an “open wound” or “sore”. It is easy to swipe a wound with antiseptic, but the more patient work is healing the actual wound.

Here are a few practical ways we can do this:

Baptism - It is where we are freed from the demon and healed from sin. Ignite the flame of your baptism by frequent and intense prayer and meditation on the Word of God, especially the Mass readings. You are probably reading this article because you are already interested in doing this. Well done. Keep it up. However because we need Christ's help returning to baptismal innocence we need to go to frequent Confession.

Confession - At least once a month and if your really mean business, like you actually want to become like Christ, once a week. Find a stable confessor you can be accountable to on a consistent basis, who can help you in the long term.

Eucharist - Why would you not have contact with Jesus Christ every day in daily Mass? Ok maybe your state in life makes it hard for you to go every day, but there are usually many masses around in different churches at different times. You are where you want to be. Make time. Do. It.

Rosary - Pray the Rosary. Daily. Blessed Pope John Paul II called it his favorite "missionary prayer." This is because in 15 minutes you allow Our Lady to preach the Gospel to you and to pray for the sending of the Holy Spirit upon you to share this good news with the poor.

Pope Francis - Stay plugged in to the Holy Father's words and works. He is so clear and simple. Perfect for our age. The Vatican youtube channel has his daily homilies in a few minutes. He tweets ultra clear messages of 140 characters that can shape your whole mission for a day.

Courage - be encouraged, enthused, enlivened, and animated by God's choice in sending YOU. He has chosen YOU. He loves YOU. Allow yourself to feel this choice and this love every day. Give God permission to love and convert you that you may help bring this about in others