[Jesus] continued according to plan, travelled to town after town, village after village, preaching God’s kingdom, spreading the Message. The Twelve were with him. There were also some women in their company who had been healed of various evil afflictions and illnesses: Mary, the one called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out; Joanna, … and Susanna … along with many others.
Luke 8:1 -3
So … Mary Magdalene had seven demons, seven clinging complexities, seven overpowering addictions. Not good. She can’t have been all that great to have around. Just as well Jesus cured her – he needed to….
But, thinking about it, she’s not too different from me, I suppose. You see I am addicted too …. to travelling by car, to criticising & judging myself and others, to second helpings, to central-heating & air-conditioning, to having things my way, to emails & FB, to being efficient & rational, to a busy & demanding working life, to looking good, – those are my seven demons. Oh no, that’s nine! Well, perhaps I’m not really addicted to emails, or chocolate…. or body shape ….Or ….Bother!
Mary seems to be named by her home place and having had seven demons go out of her – not sure I would want to be defined like that.(“Hello, I’m Jeffrey, the one from Nuneaton, the one who’s had seven addictions sorted!”)
For Mary Magdalene a cure seemed to have changed her life completely. But then mine are just mild addictions not real demons … and everyone else has them too, so it’s different, really. I don’t need curing, do I.
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. … Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.
Matthew 11:28 (The Message)
I am living the life I want …. aren’t I? I am living freely and lightly … aren’t I?