In today’s gospel (Mt 8:28-34) we encounter the story of Jesus exorcising two men possessed by demons. It is a familiar story. The demoniacs recognize the nature and authority of Jesus, realizing that he is in total control, they request that they be cast into nearby swine. Jesus complies and apparently the swine have different plans and drown themselves rather than be possessed.As part of the dialogue leading up to the drowning, there is an interesting phrase: pro kairou, which our translation provides as “the appointed time.”  The phrase implies a recognition by the demons that their time of opportunity to trouble human beings is limited, and that the arrival of Jesus signals the beginning of the end, which they had hoped would not come yet. Extra-biblical sources (e.g. 1 Enoch) held that one role of the Messiah was as the final judge of all demons and evil spirits. There are many incidents in all the gospels in which Jesus is seen as  the judge beginning a “clean-up” of the forces of the evil one.

As many commentators have noted there is a part of us that gives safe harbor to sinful thoughts, inclinations, or habits. For those people for whom these things are a true burden, it is as though a possession – not necessarily a full possession that would serve as cinematic terror – but harmful nonetheless. Perhaps for others such thoughts, inclinations and habits are troublesome, a nuisance, but by in large manageable by force of discipline aided by prayer and grace. Still, their continued existence would still leave us “possessed” although on the far end of the spectrum.

Maybe that is just life in a world that is incomplete, broken in some ways – but it is always pro kariou, the appointed time for us to listen to the commanding voice of Christ who by grace will lead us to place of increasing holiness where the darker voices are increasingly silent working towards gone.

“One thing at time” is always good advice and perhaps that applies here. Pick one of those thoughts, inclinations or habits (and only one) and make it the singular object of your prayer for “an appointed time.” Ask God to reveal to you what requires healing or change in your life that will lead you to greater holiness and to ultimately cast out that which “possesses” us if even i only a small manner. Jesus started the “clean up.”  It is “the appointed time” for each of us to be part of the clean up crew.