Word to the Wise
Monday, February 4, 2013 - Monday in the 4th Week in Ordinary Time
[Heb 11:32-40 and Mark 5:1-20]Go home to your family and make it clear to them how much the Lord in his mercy has done for you.
[St. Catherine de Ricci, O.P. - scriptures may vary in Dominican locales]
The story of the Gerasene demoniac is full of unusual images. It occurs in pagan territory, in a cemetery, and involves evil spirits and swine! The import of the story is that Jesus does have power over demons of all kinds (their name is "Legion!"). As happens elsewhere in the gospel, the demons recognize Jesus even if the ordinary people do not. In fact, the local people, when they hear what Jesus has done, are afraid of him and beg him to leave! The evil spirits beg to be sent into a herd of swine that then go crazy and run into the sea and drown!
It is difficult to know how this story came to be part of the resources that the evangelist, Mark, had at his disposal but the confrontational tone of the gospel continues here. The disciples and others will recognize Jesus fully only after his death and resurrectioin. In the meantime, Jesus regularly confronts them with their lack of understanding. Even the Gerasene demoniac fails to follow Jesus' orders. Only the demons know who they are dealing with. However, we know who we are dealing with, and we can tell others what the Lord in his mercy has done for us. Can we follow those orders? AMEN
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