Perhaps Jesus thought it best to go along with the common misconception that people with mental disorders were possessed by demons.

Friday, 10/9/15

The first reading followed on clouds of locusts eating Israel's crops. The Prophet Joel told the people that if they thought the locusts were bad, they should see what worse things God had in store for sinners.

Since the Bible makes no mention of schizophrenia, or epilepsy, or addictions, or any other mental or nervous disorders; and since it makes no mention of institutions for caring for people afflicted by them; it might be that Jesus thought it best to go along with the common misunderstanding of people seeing such people as being possessed by demons. That’s just my guess.

In today’s Gospel Jesus said, “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.” 

Perhaps Jesus was telling us that anyone who gives up when he or she is only half-way through getting over a disorder or addiction, he or she will be worse than ever.