Jesus and his disciples came to the other side of the sea, to the territory of the Gerasenes. When he got out of the boat, at once a man from the tombs who had an unclean spirit met him. The man had been dwelling among the tombs, and no one could restrain him any longer, even with a chain. In fact, he had frequently been bound with shackles and chains, but the chains had been pulled apart by him and the shackles smashed, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the hillsides he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones. Catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran up and prostrated himself before him, crying out in a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me!” (He had been saying to him, “Unclean spirit, come out of the man!”) Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “Legion is my name. There are many of us.” And he pleaded earnestly with him not to drive them away from that territory.
Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside. And they pleaded with him, “Send us into the swine. Let us enter them.” And he let them, and the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine. The herd of about two thousand rushed down a steep bank into the sea, where they were drowned. The swineherds ran away and reported the incident in the town and throughout the countryside. And people came out to see what had happened. As they approached Jesus, they caught sight of the man who had been possessed by Legion, sitting there clothed and in his right mind. And they were seized with fear. Those who witnessed the incident explained to them what had happened to the possessed man and to the swine. Then they began to beg him to leave their district. As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed pleaded to remain with him. But Jesus would not permit him but told him instead, “Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.” Then the man went off and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him; and all were amazed.
Breaking the text open:
The gospel for today, Monday of the 4th Week in Ordinary Time, continues our reading of the Gospel of Mark. The text recounts Jesus’ encounter with the man in Gerasenes possessed by demons. Immediately upon Jesus’ arrival, the demons that possessed the man recognized Jesus and called Him “Jesus, Son of the Most High God.” The demons also begged Jesus not to torment them because Jesus had been ordering them to come out of the man. They begged Jesus to let them enter the nearby swine; Jesus allowed it. Once the demons entered the swine, the swine ran amok and over the bank, into the sea and drowned.
The presence of the swine herd tells us that Jesus had entered into Gentile territory because Jews were prohibited from raising or consuming swine. Jesus shows compassion for the man immediately. Yet, when the man asks to follow Jesus after his healing, Jesus denies him. Yet, Jesus commissioned the man as a disciple to his own people, the Gentiles, telling them of Jesus and his power exercised for the man in compassion.
The locals, amazed at Jesus’ power, were still frightened by what they did not understand, and begged Jesus to leave them and their area. Jesus complied.
Meditating on the text:
Do I share with others what Christ has done for me? Do I tell others of Christ’s power and presence? Am I a disciple to my own neighbors, friends, and family?
Praying:
LORD, Jesus Christ, Son of the Most High God, I come to You this day acknowledging your power and giving thanksgiving for the many ways I have experienced your power and presence in my life. Let me serve You, LORD. Let me follow in your footsteps. Send your Spirit to guide me in my life so that I might be a worthy disciple. Give me the courage and fortitude to proclaim your name and the Good News of Salvation won for us all through your life, death, and resurrection. Amen.
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