Word to the Wise
Wednesday, July 1, 2015 - Wednesday in the 13th Week in Ordinary Time
[Gen 21:5, 8-20a and Matt 8:28-34]"What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?" [Matthew]
It is one of the more interesting ironies of the gospels that evil spirits recognize Jesus but ordinary people do not, no matter what sign Jesus gives! Although the story of the demoniac(s) is a strange one which seems out of place, it was a part of the traditions about Jesus that the gospel writer had at hand. A herd of swine would not have been part of the usual Jewish milieu where Jesus preached!
When the people of the nearby village learn about Jesus' expulsion of the demon(s) [Matthew doubles the number], they are not happy about it. They beg Jesus to go away! I cannot help but think that many of us might be fearful of such a manifestation of power, even if we had a morbid curiosity about it. The book, THE EXORCIST, certainly caught people's attention back in the early 1970's.
This incident should be seen against the larger canvas of Matthew's gospel as an example of the forces that were arraigned against Jesus: evil spirits and ignorance and fear among other things. These are still around and a good disciple should be aware of them. In any case, if Jesus acts in our lives, I hope we won't beg him to go away! AMEN