Word to the Wise
Monday, February 3, 2020 - Monday in the 4th Week in Ordinary Time
[2 Sam 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13 and Mark 5:1-20]"Go home to your family and announced to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you." [Mark]
The story of the Gerasene demoniac gives scripture scholars a lot to puzzle about - the geography is mixed up and the number of pigs is improbable and maybe two different versions of the story have been mixed together, etc. But there are a number of themes that emerge.
A first theme is that Jesus has power even over "legions" of demons that had taken over one man. He humiliates them by driving them into pigs!!
A second theme is that signs and miracles don't always result in faith in Jesus. (In the Gospel According to Mark, complete faith only comes with the cross and resurrection.] In this story the reaction is fear and the people beg Jesus to leave!!!
A third theme is that Jesus, in contrast to other situations in the Gospel According to Mark, tells the formerly possessed man to go and proclaim what Jesus has done instead of keeping it quiet. So, the man is asked not to "follow" Jesus but to go and tell others.
Lastly, the miracle and proclamation take place in a non-Jewish region. Jesus' power is being make known to Jew and non-Jew alike, even if complete understanding only comes with the cross and resurrection. The vivid details of the story can distract our attention from the broader meaning. Perhaps we can consider that the same power Jesus shows in this scene can overcome demons that we or others we know have been battling? AMEN
[NOTE TO THE BELOVED CONGREGATION. Each year the Southern Dominican Province, to which I belong, reaches out to friends and benefactors to ask for assistance in our efforts to educated our student brothers (seminarians) and take care of our elderly (I'm one) and infirm (I'm not) brothers. If you can help, you can send a donation to 1216 ANNUAL FUND, Dominican Friars, P.O. Box 8129, New Orleans, LA 70182. "Request by Fr. RB" or you can go online at <www.opsouth.org> and scroll down to 1216 Annual Fund for instructions. Many, many thanks for your help!! frRB]
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