Bottom line: Jesus freed Dostoevsky from the unclean spirit of gambling. He can also free us from addiction.
In today’s Gospel we hear about a man tormented by an unclean spirit which causes uncontrollable outbursts. At first glance, it seems like we are entering strange world, far removed from our own. Nevertheless, when we think about it, it may not be as distant as it first appears. We often read in the newspaper about fellow humans who act under some inexplicable compulsion, who do things almost unimaginable. Moreover, we know people who appear quite ordinary, yet who are gripped by self-destructive addictions. Indeed, most of us have that kind of experience, at least during some stage of our lives. We may not identify it as an “unclean spirit,” but we find ourselves in the thrall of some power which seems beyond our control. And it is not uncommon for people with great mental abilities to fall victim to some irrational compulsion.
I would like to use an example from one of the greatest geniuses of modern times. I mentioned him last Sunday – the Russian novelist, Feodor Dostoevsky. He is known as the “master of the human heart”* on account of his penetrating psychological insights, but he had great difficulty mastering his own emotions. A “demon” which afflicted him was a gambling addiction.
The addiction began when Dostoevsky entered a casino and placed a bet at the roulette wheel. He won – and it seemed like his financial troubles were over. He did not, however, stop when he was ahead; he kept playing and wound up losing everything. In desperation, he pawned his ring, his watch and his coat. Then he proceeded to lose that money as well.
Afterward, he felt miserable, not just because of his losses, but because he had given into a frenzy which drove him to act recklessly. He resolved to never gamble again. To his wife he swore that he would quit, but that turned out to be a promise she would hear over and over. Dostoevsky’s gambling not only plunged him into ever deeper debt; it jeopardized his marriage and his family. This pattern continued for many years.
One day things changed. Dostoevsky had scraped together a sum equaling a few hundred dollars. He carefully calculated what part he would risk and what part he would save. As always, the frenzy overtook him and he not only bet everything, but pleaded with fellow gamblers to loan him money, offering them some item of clothes as collateral. About nine-thirty in the evening, he emerged from the casino, full of remorse. He decided to seek a priest to make a confession. In the distance he saw what looked like a Russian church. When he finally got there, it turned out to be a Jewish synagogue. He later wrote, “It was as though I had cold water poured over me. I came running home…” From that day forward, he never entered another casino.
We do not know exactly what happened to Dostoevsky that night, but somehow his addiction was broken. It certainly had something to do with his desire to confess his sins and seek Christ’s forgiveness. And it was as if an unclean spirit had been cast from him. He entered into some of the most productive – and happiest – years of his life.**
When we see such things happen – and we do, even today – we can only marvel and react as did the townspeople of Capernaum: “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” Jesus can also liberate you – and me.
A HEALER
According to Mark’s gospel, Jesus’ first apostolic appearance with his newly elected disciples was highlighted by the cure of a “man possessed by an unclean spirit.” This took place in the synagogue of Cafarnaun. The scene is described in full detail, from start to finish, showing the healing and liberating power of Jesus.
It was Sabbath and people were gathered in the synagogue to listen to the commentary of the Law explained by the appointed Scribes. Jesus “began to teach” the Good News of God from the place where traditionally they taught the Law of Israel.
People were surprised as they listened to Jesus. Until then, they had been used to hear always old laws explained by the same old teachers, who had no special authority. Jesus was totally different. He spoke with authority and freedom. He did not show any fear as he spoke of a Good God.
Suddenly, “there was a man possessed by an unclean spirit” who began shouting, “Have you come to destroy us?” As he listened to Jesus’ words, the spirit felt threatened. Its religious power felt powerless. They were described as “unclean spirits”, hostile to God. What were those forces that impeded them from listening to Jesus? What perverse or hurtful experiences
they felt when listening to the Good News that Jesus announced?
Jesus did not stop his teaching and he spoke sharply: “Be quiet! Come out of him!” And he ordered everyone to let the man listen to his Good News of God. He made the man recover his own peace as he listened to him.
The gospel narrative continues describing the cure in a very dramatic way: “the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and with a loud cry went out of him.” Jesus had freed the man from his inner slavery. He brought to an end the inner darkness and the terrible fear of God. From then on, the man would be free to listen to the Good News of Jesus.
There are many people who still have false images of God in their imagination that make them live in fear and ignorance. They see God not as a loving presence that invites them to live freely, but as a threatening shadow controlling their very existence. Jesus’ healing power always began by liberating people from such oppression.
Jesus’ words always encouraged trust and dispelled all sorts of fears. His parables spoke of God’s love, not of the blind fear of the Law. His very presence encouraged freedom and not submission. He brought about love rather than doubts; Jesus was a healer because he spoke only about kindness, pardon and a non-exclusive love. He cured because He freed us from the power of things, of self-deceit and our own idolatry.
AS ONE HAVING AUTHORITY
We have a love-hate relationship with authority. We support it when it serves and protects us, but we resent it when it inhibits our freedoms. Jesus’ authority is of a different kind, the winsome authority of someone who had not been appointed or trained for it.
Mark tells us that Jesus began his public ministry in the region of Galilee saying that “the time has arrived”: “the kingdom of God is at hand,” and he invited people to “repent and believe in the gospel.” He entered the synagogue in Capernaum, and was invited to teach. The people were amazed at the way he taught, not like the Scribes – evidently, he taught with “authority and conviction”. Add to this that he was approached by a demoniac and he cured him. “What is this?” they said, he commands even unclean spirits!
Normally there are two kinds of authority. First, authority is a right or a power officially entrusted to someone, by election or appointment. Second, authority is a power or a quality that an individual possesses. Its source is within the person and it is recognized by others: a commanding presence, knowledge or expertise. Jesus taught and healed as one having authority. He was not publicly known when he arrived, but he people sensed that he was an exceptional person by what he said and did.
“Not as the Scribes,” the gospel says. Who were the Scribes? They were supposed to be the scholars or interpreters of the Scriptures. But, evidently, they had lost much of their popularity and good name. They did not command respect, and had lost their authority, too. This is a warning for many of us: we may lose our substance and spirit. Our life and conduct may start to reflect only our mundane and institutional concerns – like the Scribes! We, as followers of Christ, must have more than the scriptures to offer: the Light of the world for people’s darkness, and the Bread of life for people’s hunger.
The uniqueness of Jesus is not in his miracles, nor in his teaching alone. There were great teachers and miracle-workers, too, in Jesus’ time. The uniqueness of Jesus was evidently in his person: his authority, his power, his compassion, and his uniqueness.
The world today has no trouble recognizing Jesus or perceiving his unique message. It is his representatives who cloud the issue. Whenever any group begins to live as Jesus lived, serve as Jesus served and love as Jesus loved, they will not need to announce themselves as Christians. The world will recognize them.
TEACHING WITH AUTHORITY
The way Jesus taught gave people the impression that they were in front of someone totally different and remarkable. The earliest Christian sources and most historians confirm these facts. Jesus, indeed, could teach like all Scribes and Law experts. He taught with authority: His word was enough to free people from their evil spirits.
Still we should not confuse “authority” with “power”. The evangelist Mark writes very precisely when he says that Jesus’ words do not come from his power. Jesus is not trying to exercise his own will over the rest. He does not teach in order to exercise control over the people. He never uses force or any sort of threat.
His words are not like those of the Scribes of the Jewish religion. He is not invested with institutional powers. His “authority” arises from the force of the Spirit. It originates in His love for the people. He is seeking to alleviate their suffering, to heal their wounds and to promote better lives. Jesus does not cause dependence, surrender or passivity. He frees people from fears, creating trust in God, and encouraging people to seek a better world.
No one can deny that today we are going through a serious crisis of authority. Public trust in public institutions is at its lowest. Within the Church, too, we are experiencing a very serious distrust in the “magisterium”. Preaching is “boring” and most homilies are old-fashioned.
Haven’t we reached a point of return to Jesus and the time to learn from his lessons and homilies? The Church words and lessons must be inspired in the real love for the people. The Church must speak only after a careful and attentive listening to what goes on in the world, not before. The lessons from the Church must sound familiar, after understanding and echoing the human voices of all the people.
We need to hear words that are not dictated by the sources of power and authority and they are inspired by the Spirit. The church teaching must originate in the respect and positive concern for the people, which, in turn, will generate hope and heal wounds. It would be a very serious mistake if the Church continues to teach a doctrine of Scribes instead of speaking the healing words of Jesus – which people today so badly need.