“Now when the unclean spirit comes out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’; and when it comes, finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they come in and live there; and the last condition of that person becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation.” Matthew 12:43-45
What will he find when he returns?
You’ve accepted Jesus, gone to the Sacrament of Confession, and received the Holy Eucharist, your ‘house’ is clean. Your soul shines brightly and the demons of sin and temptation are cast out. You are free!
The demon which haunted you has been thrown out and is roaming “the waterless places seeking rest.” When it gets tired of the search and remembers it’s once comfortable home that was your soul, it will return. With a vengeance of anger for being cast out, the demon will rampage back seeking its home and retribution.
What will he find when he returns?
Will your soul be sparking as the new fallen snow, pure and white? Will your soul be clinically clean and still have that antiseptic smell? If this is all the demon finds, it won’t even tremble as it smashes down the door with its friends. They will easily contaminate your soul again – and worse this time.
Or, when that demon peeks through the window of your soul will it see more than just an antiseptic clean within? Will it look into the room of your soul and find the King of kings enthroned? If it looks at you and sees Jesus has been invited to come to live within, it will flee in terror. It may linger and lurk around to see if you let Jesus stay. But, in time, as it becomes clear that Jesus has taken up permanent residency, the demons resolve will weaken.
Through the ministry of the Church and in God’s Divine Mercy, clean house! Every nook and corner, wipe free with the Blood and Water from the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Then, open the door wide and let in the King of Mercy. No need to send an invitation, He is already waiting on the other side of the door.
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Revelation 3:20