I want to talk about exorcism, but first let’s remember the characters Jesus chose to do such work. This week we have a list of the disciples’ names. These are ordinary names – Simon, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bart, Thomas and Matthew. Ok, I don’t know anyone called Thaddaeus or Judas, but the rest are all everyday names. Some of them had nicknames such as James and John who were known as the Sons of Thunder. Let’s think about this. Imagine you were in charge of promoting a rally where James and John were to preach and perform exorcisms. Would your poster headline be ‘Come and meet James and John’ or would you prefer ‘Come and meet the Sons of Thunder’? Maybe we would be tempted to give Matthew the tax collector a bit of a makeover. ‘Come and hear the Cashman’? The fact remains that Jesus chose ordinary people with ordinary jobs and ordinary names to exorcise and to heal. Can you imagine what would happen if I were to send you out into the town to exorcise and to heal? I would immediately receive a call from the bishop, and rightly so! The problem is that exorcisms and healings have become sophisticated, and the practice of them is open to abuse. So, what was Jesus up to? What was he charging his disciples to do? There are clues in our Bible passage. 

Jesus has compassion on the people because they were harassed and helpless. Helplessness is an awful feeling. Very few of us will know what it feels like to be helpless because there is often something we can do. We can pick up the phone, send an email, go on a march. To be utterly helpless is tragically isolating. You feel lost and defeated with no energy left to engage with life. Soon you are overwhelmed with a sense of having been forgotten. The world has judged that you are not worth the bother. Those who have studied such things tell us that demon possession is more prevalent amongst the helpless because it is a way of describing you have lost control of your life. Exorcism, therefore, is about restoring confidence and hope. It’s about focusing on the overlooked. It’s about re-energising the deflated. Exorcism does not have to be elaborate. Jesus simply dismissed ‘the demons’ with a word. To help the disciples do their job, Jesus gave them what they need – no salt, no holy water; just authority. 

Did you ever imagine that you can banish demons simply by picking up the phone and making a call for someone who is too depressed to do it for themselves? It doesn’t take much to help the helpless and help them feel they have some control over their lives again. Jesus gives us divine authority to do this, even if we have an ordinary name.

Lord God, our heavenly Father, we praise your name for drawing close to us in Jesus Christ. Through your Son you transformed, redeemed and renewed the lives of all who turned to you. Make us channels of your grace in our world today. 

By the light and truth of Jesus I lift my loved one to you. By the hope of the Redeemer, I pray for your healing power to break through. By the peace and the grace of the Living One, I place them safely in your care. By the death and resurrection of the King of Kings may your restoration now flow through my prayers. By the greatest gift of love ever known, help me care for them as you would do. By the hope and strength of the living God, I place my trust and faith in you. Amen.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

(Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.)