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By Fr. Richard McAlear, O.M.I.

One of the gifts of the Charismatic Renewal has been a rediscovery of ministries that have been long neglected, if not forgotten.  The openness to charisms has brought about new possibilities for ministry in the Church, ministries sorely needed today.  Healing and deliverance are two such works that have been given new life in our time.

Many of us are familiar with the ministry of healing.  Deliverance may be less understood or known.  Deliverance deals with the powers of evil and seeks to free those who are bound by evil in some way.  It is not so much a prayer as a ministry of authority, taking up the command of Jesus to “set the captive free” and “to cast out demons.”  In the most extreme cases, which are quite rare, the person is actually possessed.  In most cases it is a matter of the person being harassed and tormented by evil spirits.  Jesus gave his authority to the Church to cast out these evil entities and set the person free.

Christ sent out the disciples to proclaim the kingdom and to accomplish two other important ministries that would continue and expand his work—healing and deliverance.  “He gave them authority to cure diseases and to cast out evil spirits” (Lk 10:17).

Thankfully, the Charismatic Renewal has brought back to the consciousness of the church a new awareness of these ministries.  Healing and deliverance need to be placed side by side because they support on another.  There can be no deliverance without healing, and healing will often involve deliverance.  It is important to note that deliverance must be linked to healing.  If it is not, it runs the risk of being seen as isolated spiritual warfare with ongoing battles and struggles carried out in a virtual vacuum.  People who are in bondage to evil spirits are also wounded and hurting and therefore in need of healing.  In fact, spiritual bondage is almost always rooted in some deep woundedness that needs to be touched with healing love.  Ministry must center on people and not demons.  The goal is human wholeness involving all the dimensions of the person—the will, the mind, the soul, the body.

There are several reasons why the Renewal has brought about a revival and renewed interest in these ancient ministries.  Here I focus on just three reasons that would lay a groundwork for understanding deliverance.  Without this foundation there could be no embrace of this ministry.

First and foremost the Renewal explicitly exalts and proclaims the living Lordship of Jesus Christ, raised from the dead and exalted to the right hand of the Father.   More than being a teacher, moral guide, miracle worker or example of human potential, Jesus Christ is Lord.  The catchphrase for the whole Renewal has always been the cry that “Jesus is Lord.”  He reigns over all, is above all and is supreme over every spirit, power, sovereignty, domination and over any name that could possibly be named—in this world or in the world to come.  Before him every knee will bend, on earth, in the heavens and even in the netherworld itself.  Everyone and everything must acknowledge that Jesus is Lord of lords and King of kings.  His very name makes hell tremble.

Knowing the superiority of his power and authority opens the way to praying for healing and deliverance.  There is no other basis for deliverance and healing ministry other than an explicit faith in Jesus as Lord.

Secondly, there is in the Charismatic Renewal a great awareness of the sufferings that afflict people, the spiritual bondages that they labor under and the heartaches they carry within.  This awareness flows from the gifts of compassion and love.  Jesus had a profound compassion for the multitudes.  He was moved by pity and deep compassion because of their sorrows and sufferings.  That is what brought him to teach and to heal.  He was moved to action by this compassion.  The birth of the ministry of healing and deliverance is based on the same motive and the same deep compassion to alleviate suffering, break spiritual bondage and touch hurting people.

Many people feel burdened for the sufferings of people; the Renewal adds to that burden an awareness of the gifts of the Spirit—the power and the charisms that can touch the wounded and bring healing.  The ministries of healing and deliverance flow from compassion, a deep concern for the suffering of people, and the desire to bring the power of the Spirit to bear, freeing people from their bondages.  There is a combination of compassionate love, faith in the Lordship of Jesus Christ and an awareness of the power exercised in the charisms that allows an effective ministry to the wounded and those broken by the dark spirits of evil that afflict so many.

Finally, because the Charismatic Renewal focuses on the gifts of the Spirit and has a practical awareness of their power, it is also aware that it is “not every spirit that you can trust” (1 Jn 4:1).  Everything spiritual is not authentically compatible with the Gospel.  There are occult powers evil spirits and dangerous spiritual practices that need to be avoided.  No matter how harmless they seem or how much good they promise, discernment will distinguish the good from the false, the spirits that promise life and the Spirit that gives life (Jn 10:10).  It is impossible to underestimate the need to discern what is of God and will truly glorify Jesus Christ from what is false and deceitful.  People can be looking for spiritual experiences and end up in bondage to evil.  The Renewal warns of the dangers that can lead to bondage and deliverance sets the captive free from bondage.

Jesus came to give life.  When evil spirits afflict someone they kill and destroy life.  Deliverance uses the authority of Jesus Christ to set the captive free and lead those in bondage out of the darkness into the light of true liberty.  This ministry of authority is completed with the ministry of healing that restores life and hope to the poor and wounded soul.  So the work of Jesus continues and God is glorified.

Reprinted with permission Pentecost Today.

Oct/Nov/Dec 2011

Pope Benedict XVI tells us that as much as we may like quick answers, we can gain clarity on the enigmas of life only as we take the time to immerse ourselves in the word of God. So in this article, we want to look at how we can meet Jesus, the living Word of God, in the Bible, which is the written word of God. We want to make three practical recommendations that will help us hear God’s own voice and sense his presence as we ponder his word inScripture.

Read Every Day!

“May every day of our lives thus be shaped by a renewed encounter with Christ, the Word of the Father made flesh.” (VD, 124)

The first step sounds obvious, but it’s one that we can often overlook: Set aside time to read the Scriptures every day. Schedule it in your day. Do it first thing in the morning. Become familiar with the story of the Bible so that you can see how God has worked throughout the ages. Discover for yourself how patiently God has worked, teaching us his ways and preparing us for the coming of the Lord. And don’t be afraid to use reliable commentaries and Bible studies to help you. The more you know about the background, history, and context of the Bible, the better you can piece together its story. But be sure that as you are reading and studying, you are also praying and searching. As Pope Benedict emphasized, we can meet Jesus in the words of Scripture. We can develop a deep relationship with him as we let his words sink into our hearts.

This doesn’t happen overnight. Like any relationship, it takes time. Think of any close friendship you have. Didn’t you and your friend grow to appreciate each other as you spent time together? Didn’t you become attached to each other as you shared the highs and lows of your lives? You grew to love each other because of the way you shared your hopes and fears, your dreams and disappointments.

There is no substitute for time. Relationships take time. Communication takes time. Love takes time. And so we need to be reading Scripture everyday so that we can get to know God. How does he think about things? How does he react to hardship or to good fortune? What makes him happy or sad? What are his dreams and hopes?

Become Part of the Scriptures. “The word of God draws each of us into a conversation with the Lord: the God who speaks teaches us how to speak to him.” (VD, 24)

As you read every day, try to imagine yourself in whatever scene you are reading. When he read the Gospels, St. Ignatius of Loyola would often picture himself as one of Jesus’ disciples so that he could observe closely everything that was going on. He would imagine himself as an extra witness at the Last Supper, drinking in everything around him as Jesus offered the first Eucharist. He would look closely at Jesus’ face as he forgave the woman caught in adultery or as he challenged the Pharisees and Sadducees. He would join Mary Magdalene and the apostle John at Calvary and observe the sights and sounds of the day when Jesus died for him. Inserting ourselves in the Scriptures this way shouldn’t be a passive thing. We shouldn’t just sit back and watch what is happening. We can become part of the scene as well. For instance, as you picture yourself on Mount Horeb with Moses and the burning bush, feel free to ask Moses what it felt like to hear God’s voice. Imagine him turning to you and sharing with you what he was thinking when God told him to confront Pharaoh and demand that he release the Jewish people. You just may be surprised at the answers you get!

Be sure not to limit yourself just to the stories in the Bible. Benedict himself encourages us to do the same thing with the psalms, which have been called the Bible’s own prayer book: In the Psalms we find expressed every possible human feeling set master fully in the sight of God. . . . In this way our word to God becomes God’s word. . . and our whole existence becomes a dialogue with the God who speaks and listens. (VD, 24) Imagine yourself as one of the psalmists as you bring your heart before the Lord. And like the psalmists, be bold enough to expect an answer from God. In place of the psalmist’s concerns, insert your own needs and desires, your own longings and hopes. Let his words of praise and thanksgiving become your own. As Benedict said, God’s words will then become your words. His thoughts will become your thoughts. His ways will become your ways, pushing aside anything in you that is opposed to his way of thinking. Slow Down and Listen.

“Only in silence can the word of God find a home in us, as it did in Mary, woman of the word and, inseparably, woman of silence.” (VD, 66) Placing yourself in the Bible this way may feel like nothing more than playing make-believe at first. How can you tell if the things you are picturing are coming from your own imagination or from God? The key here is through quiet listening. We live in a very noisy, active world, and all that activity can influence our time with the Scriptures. It can be tempting, as you are placing yourself in a scene from the Bible, to lose sight of your goal and let your imagination run away with you. You may end up spending all your time picturing the scene in detail, imagining the people’s reactions, and letting the story continue to unfold. But all this imaginative activity has to be balanced with silence and stillness. How else will you be able to hear God’s voice?

If a particular word or phrase or image catches your attention, stop and dwell on it. Slow down. Take your time. Don’t worry about getting to the end of the story or the end of the psalm. Instead, mull over it. Wait for the Lord to speak to you. It could be as simple as Jesus’ words “Have faith in God” at the Last Supper (John 14:1), or it could be as involved as Paul’s statement that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13). Whatever it is, take time to let it unfold. Repeat the word or phrase over and over again, asking the Lord what he wants to say to you. Write down any impressions you may have. Quiet your heart, breathe deeply, and receive whatever God wants to give you.

If the thoughts that come to you fill you with peace, joy, hope, or a desire to be more like Jesus, you can be sure that the Holy Spirit is speaking to you. If the thoughts make you feel anxious, frustrated, or immersed in guilt, then you can be sure they aren’t from God. If the thoughts that come to you move you to act differently, to act more like the Lord, then you can be confident that God is behind them. For instance, you may feel moved to show extra kindness to a friend or family member. You may be compelled to confess a past sin that has been heavy on your conscience. You may find new courage to get involved in a parish ministry. Or you may feel the need to mend a wounded friendship. Whatever you sense God asking you to do, step out and do it. More often than not, you’ll find that one simple step leads to another and another—each one drawing you closer to the Lord. The God Who Speaks. In the introduction to his exhortation, Pope Benedict tells us: There is no greater priority than this: to enable the people of our time once more to encounter God, the God who speaks to us and shares his love so that we might have life in abundance. (VD, 2) With these words, Benedict is telling us that the key to a full, fruitful, and peaceful life lies in hearing God speak his word to us. He is telling us how deeply our heavenly Father wants to open our eyes to his presence and his love. All we have to do is let his word take root in our hearts. Life is full of questions, just as Benedict XVI told us. How good it is to know that we can find the answers as we ask Jesus, God’s full and perfect Word, to speak to us!

Reprinted with permission. The Word Among Us. 9639 Dr. Perry Road #126, Ijamsville, MD 21754 (April, 2011) www.wau.org

Sunday, June 12, 2011
Praise & Worship 2:30 pm ~ Mass 3:00 pm
St. Bernadine Parish, 816 Marengo, Forest Park, IL 60130
Celebrant: Fr. John Harvey
Fellowship to follow mass.

Sunday, June 12, 2011
Praise & Worship 2:30 pm ~ Mass 3:00 pm
St. Bernadine Parish, 816 Marengo, Forest Park, IL 60130
Celebrant: Fr. John Harvey
Fellowship to follow mass

Originally called the Feast of Weeks (seven weeks after the initial barley harvest at Passover), Shavout, was a harvest feast, celebrating the first fruits of the wheat harvest.  It was one of the three major feasts — Passover, Feast of Weeks and Feast of Booths — where pilgrims came from various countries to Jerusalem.  It was a joyous feast, celebrating and offering to God the fruits of the wheat harvest.  Later, as the other feasts, it was connected to an event in Israel’s history, the giving of the Covenant on Mt. Sinai, after the flight from Egypt.  The name Pentecost (Greek for 50 days), was given it later by Hellenistic Jews (who spoke and wrote in Greek).  This is first noted in 2 Maccabees, 12:31-32 and the book of Tobit 2:1.

Luke’s description of Pentecost does not explicitly connect it to the Jewish Covenant feast, or the harvest feast.  Rather it celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples, the birth of the Church.  But the gift of the Holy Spirit expresses the fruitfulness of Christ’s death and resurrection (the Passover) and establishes a new covenant and law – the law of the Spirit.  It thus fulfills the spiritual meaning of the Jewish Feast of Pentecost.

Matthew’s Gospel carries out this connection even more explicitly in chapters 5-7 — the Beatitudes and explanations.  According to J. N. D. Goulder, Midrash and Lection in Matthew’s Gospel, the Beatitudes present a Christian meaning of the New Holy Spirit Covenant.  Ps 119, the longest psalm in the Psalter, consists of 22 stanzas (numbered by the Hebrew alphabet) each with 8 verses, every verse of which has some synonym for covenant (statutes, decrees, words, commandments, etc.).  Since Pentecost had no octave (it concluded the Passover period), it had eight prayer periods in each of which 3 stanzas of Ps 119 were recited (with one for the end).  As a Christian fulfillment, Matthew presents the eight beatitudes and clarifies each one in reverse order (common in Hebrew oral tradition) by three points.  For example, the last beatitude – “Blessed are the persecuted for theirs is the kingdom of God” continues with three points: “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you….Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

“You are the salt of the earth….” (through your suffering witness), and  “You are the light of the world,” (as a candle gives light even as it burns down).

After a statement about Jesus’ words fulfilling the law and the prophets, Matthew goes on to speak about avoiding anger, reaching out to reconcile, and settling with your opponent before court (that is, “be peacemakers!”), about avoiding adultery, divorce and oaths (“be pure of heart”), about avoiding retaliation, love of enemies and almsgiving (“be merciful”).  The central focus is about praying in secret, praying the Our Father and fasting in secret (that is, “we must hunger and thirst for righteousness”).  After that center, Matthew speaks about seeking treasure in heaven, having a generous spirit (a good eye), and trusting in God (“be meek”), about not judging others, being aware of the beam in your eye, and not casting pearls before swine (“mourn for your sins”), and finally about asking, trusting God as good father (“be poor (a beggar) in spirit”).  This is the narrow gate we are to enter, and we will build on solid ground if we actually live according to this word.  The Beatitudes express the Spirit of Jesus, guiding us in Jesus’ way of trust, humility, longing for God, mercy, trustworthiness and peace.  It is the way of God’s love, and it fulfills all God’s commandments.

Pentecost brings to completion the Feast of Easter and brings its gift to fruition, that we might live the life of the Spirit and continue what Jesus has begun.  The Holy Spirit is manifested in works of healing, in words of knowledge and wisdom, in dynamic preaching that touches hearts and turns people to Jesus (as Peter’s preaching on Pentecost), but the more important transformation is interior; the Holy Spirit turns our hearts to humble trust, gratitude and love of God, and to forgiveness and loving sharing with all our brothers and sisters.  If we have not love, all the other works may help others but will profit us nothing (1 Cor 13).  As we celebrate in joy the beautiful gift of the Spirit that is handed over from the death and resurrection of Jesus, we show our gratitude by living our lives according to Jesus’ Spirit and thus glorifying God and building on the rock that is Jesus.