"Silence, Frenzied, Unclean Spirit"

"Silence, frenzied, unclean spirit!"
Cried God's healing Holy One.
"Cease your ranting! Flesh can't bear it.
Flee as night before the sun."

At Christ's words the demon trembled,
From its victim madly rushed,
While the crowd that was assembled
Stood in wonder, stunned and hushed.

Lord, the demons still are thriving
In the gray cells of the mind:
Tyrant voices, shrill and driving,
Twisted thoughts that grip and bind,

Doubts that stir the heart to panic,
Fears distorting reason's sight,
Guilt that makes our loving frantic,
Dreams that cloud the soul with fright.

Silence, Lord, the unclean spirit
In our mind and in our heart;
Speak your word that when we hear it,
All our demons shall depart.

Clear our thought and calm our feeling;
Still the fractured, warring soul.
By the power of your healing
Make us faithful, true, and whole.

-- Thomas H. Troeger (UMH No. 264)