Wednesday. [II Cor. 13:3-13; Mark 4:35-41]

   The disciples are sailing across the sea; a storm arises and places them in a dangerous situation, while the Lord sleeps. They call out to Him: “Lord, save us!” and He calms the storm with one word. This is another real representation of the order of Divine providence. Every person, the nations, and the Church are sailing across the sea of life themselves by means of the natural and supernatural powers placed in them, according to the routines established by God. The Lord rests, although He also abides amidst moving events; He Himself begins to act when an unavoidable misfortune threatens, which could turn the direction of events to oppose His Divine plans. He is everywhere, preserves everything, and warms everything with the breathe of His love; but He leaves His creatures to act themselves, by means of the powers given by Him, according to the laws and routines everywhere established and upheld by Him. He is not personally all-acting, although everything proceeds from Him and without Him nothing occurs. He is always prepared to act Himself when it is necessary according to His boundless wisdom and truth. Prayer is the receiver of God’s operations. But the best prayer is: “Lord! Thou knowest all things. Do with me as Thou willest!”

Thursday. [Gal. 1:1-10, 20-2:5; Mark 5:1-20]

   My name is Legion: for we are many. Spirits are bodiless, and therefore they do not fill or take up space like bodies. This explains why it is physically possible for many spirits to reside in one person. That it is possible morally on the part of the spirits is understandable from their amorality, or absence of all moral principles; while on the part of the person it is understandable from the many-sided contact of the constitution of one’s soul with the dismal realm of unclean powers. But this only explains what is possible; the reality of demonic possession is subject to conditions which we do not have the ability to determine. We can only say that spirits do not always enter in a visible way, and it is not always shown through the possessed person’s actions. There is an unseen, hidden demonic possession; there is also a power of spirits over minds, apart from the body, when the demons lead them wherever they wish, through passions working in them. People think that they are acting themselves, but they are actually the laughing-stocks of unclean powers. What can we do? Be a true Christian and no enemy power shall overcome you.