Hebrews 11:32-40 / Mark 5:1-20
These heroes suffered much; A
dream born of faith sustained them.
Concert musician Itzhak Perlman says that before he was four years old two things happened to shape his future in an irreversible way: he was stricken with polio, and he heard a recording of violinist Jascha Heifetz. The polio took away his legs, but Heifetz’s music gave him wings. It gave him a dream that set him on the road to musical greatness. Perlman is a faint, modern reflection of the great, great heroes of the old Testament. They also suffered much, but they also had a dream that set them on the road to spiritual greatness.
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What dream spurs us on in our moments of suffering and
trial?
“I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as
nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us.” Rom 8:18
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The author of Hebrews gives praise to the faith of great
men and women of the Old Testament: Kings and other leaders, prophets, martyrs.
Even if they did not yet know Christ, they had great faith.
On his first
journey to pagan territory, Jesus cures a possessed man. Biblical scholars
generally accept the historical foundation of this strange incident, namely,
that Jesus took pity on a sick man and revealed his divine power to the pagans.
Much of the rest may be a midrash, a sort of free allegorical theological
commentary in rabbinic style. For the Jews had a very low opinion of pagans.
They were slaves of demons, living in impure places of death, like tombs, and
not much better than pigs. In any case, Jesus is not limited by boundaries and
goes to these most alienated people, but they do not accept him. Only the man
who is healed shows faith in Jesus.
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It is a fact of life that no one
is immune to the trials and tribulations of life. But it is through trials and
tribulations that one comes to a self-realization and becomes more resilient to
the difficulties and hardships of life. And it is also through trials and
tribulations that one comes to realize who God is and how much one needs His
help.
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Encountering Christ:
1. God Is Stronger: The humanity of
the possessed man had been conquered by evil, which tortured him “night and
day” and roamed the tombs unrestrained. But that evil prostrated itself before
Our Lord and begged. We can draw great consolation from the image of Legion kneeling
and pleading before the Lord. The Catechism teaches, “The power of Satan is …
not infinite. He is only a creature, powerful from the fact that he is pure
spirit, but still a creature. He cannot prevent the building up of God’s reign.
Although Satan may act in the world out of hatred for God and his kingdom in
Christ Jesus, and although his action may cause grave injuries—of a spiritual
nature and, indirectly, even of a physical nature—to each man and to society,
the action is permitted by divine providence which with strength and gentleness
guides human and cosmic history. It is a great mystery that providence should
permit diabolical activity, but “we know that in everything God works for good
with those who love him (Romans 8:28).” (CCC 395.)
2. Jesus Came to Gentiles: The
presence of swine indicated that Jesus had come to gentile territory. He
exercised his ministry in the same way among the Gentiles as he had among the
Jews—exorcising devils and restoring humanity. Not until St. Paul later
preached and traveled did the early Church acknowledge that the Gospel message
was for everyone, but here Jesus showed by his actions that he made no
distinction among peoples. He is Lord for all! As his followers, we are called
to see everyone as a brother or sister–Greek, Jew, American–everyone.
3. These Gentiles Failed: Wherever
Jesus went, the individuals he encountered had to decide: “Is he the Son of
God, a prophet, or an imposter?” The Gentiles from the Gerasenes also had to
decide. Was this man who cast devils into a huge herd of swine who Legion said
he was—or not? As these people approached Jesus, they saw the possessed man
fully sane and restored. They witnessed the swine dead in the sea, yet they did
not prostrate themselves before Jesus. They begged Jesus to leave. They failed
to realize that “the kingdom of heaven” was at hand. Were they blinded by fear
or angry at their financial losses? Either way, they rejected the graces God
had in store for them, and instead chose to banish the Son of God from their
midst.
Conversing with Christ: Lord, with
hindsight it’s easy to call the Gentiles from the Gerasenes foolish for
rejecting you. They failed to perceive your power over evil, your compassion
for the sinner/possessed, your benevolence in coming to their territory—and so
much more. I am just as blind, deaf, and dumb every time I choose to sin.
Please, Lord, “lead me not into temptation and deliver me from evil.”
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace
I will say a decade of the rosary asking for forgiveness for my sins and the
sins of the whole world. “For the sake of your sorrowful Passion, have mercy on
us and on the whole world” (Divine Mercy Chaplet).
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Opening Prayer
Lord, our
God, through
your Son, Jesus Christ, you showed your concerned love even to the most pitiable
of people. Inspire among us too people who care, and may our own words
and gestures always reflect the love without boundaries of your Son, Jesus
Christ, our Lord. Amen
