Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/100711.cfm

Into the Valley of Saint Francis
at Mount Saint Francis

"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."


This may be one of the most frightening parables in the Bible, the story of the displaced demon who returns with seven "other spirits more wicked that itself." 
It reveals the deep understanding Jesus had of our human nature. He knew our occasional conversions can be easily overthrown, that our good intentions are often short-lived and do more harm than good. 
In twelve-step circles the syndrome is called relapse, just about everyone experiences it.  The cycle goes like this: a problem must be controlled; the attempt to control fails; the problem worsens; harsher controls are attempted; they too fail; draconian measures are attempted; they fail and result in despair. Despair leads to suicidal behavior. The sufferer may kill himself immediately or choose the slower route of self-destructive behaviors. 

• The recovering alcoholic may have quit for ten years but when he starts drinking again his deterioration picks up where it left off. It sometimes progresses as if he had never abstained! 
• Likewise, people who struggle to lose weight live in the constant fear of regaining, since  fat cells don't actually die; they only shrink. One hearty meal and they rebound to their pleasantly plumb original shape. Crash dieting inevitably collapses into binge eating, adding more weight to the sufferer and results in diabetes and worsening health. 

Relapses are so common they often discourage would-be reformers from making the effort. They say, "I've tried; I failed; I won't try again." 
Whether we're speaking of first century demons or twenty-first century obsessive compulsive behaviors, the problem is the same. We cannot manage our lives without God. 
I'm sure we could find testimonials to this cycle in the life of individuals, families, cities and nations: 

• George Bush observed that we are addicted to gasoline; his keen grasp of the obvious changed nothing. 
• Hilary Clinton admitted that American addictions to illegal drugs sabotages Mexico, South and Central America. Again, this long overdue confession changed nothing. 
• Our endless wars on drugs, poverty and terrorism are failing, but we have no choice but to pursue them. 

Where does it all end? We must finally turn to God. Not the God of our obsessions who inspires obsessive compulsion religious behavior; but the God and Father of Jesus Christ who leads us back into human community; who teaches us to listen to wise counsel from others; who gives us a willing spirit of obedience; who teaches us to laugh at our helplessness and enjoy our human nature. 
This turning to God is not a quick fix. It is not a control to end all controls. Rather, it is a surrender to God's spirit who can manage even our unconscious desires. Sometimes the Holy Spirit causes us to forget the things we could not live without! I've seen people forget to smoke cigarettes. They forgot to pack them in their purses and pockets; they forgot they wanted to smoke. 
Others, looking back on some crisis of the past, wonder why they were so upset. "What  was that all about? Why did I need that?" 
Cleaning house is useless unless the Lord moves in and occupies. His presence is subtle and often indiscernible. It doesn't necessarily make one feel good. (Do I have to feel good to believe I am saved?) 
And so we pray each day, "Thy will be done on earth -- the earth which is my body -- as it is in heaven."