BOUND AND SET FREE

“Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.” – Mark 5:19

I can relate to today’s Gospel. When I was younger, I felt that there were “unclean spirits” within me. I lived a double life. In front of my family and my Catholic community, I was Miss Goody-two-shoes. I had good grades, I seemed like the perfect daughter and sister, I was active in church activities.

       But deep down, I kept a dark secret. I had my first boyfriend when I was 12, and I never stopped having one until I was about to graduate from college. When I was 13, my second boyfriend introduced me to the world of lustful pleasure and started a vicious cycle that would last for years. I didn’t lose my virginity, but I came close many times.

       During that dark period of my life, I felt like I was “bound with shackles and chains,” like the Gerasene demoniac. I didn’t know how to break free — until I finally gave in to Jesus’ call to give Him my all.

       Since then, I have done my best to announce to others “all that the Lord in His pity has done for me.” Tina Santiago-Rodriguez (tina@trulyrichmom.com)

Reflection: Is there something in your life that keeps you bound with shackles and chains? Ask the Lord to set you free.

Lord, help me to break free of the sins that keep me in bondage. Help me to announce to the world all that You have done for me.

St. Blasé, bishop and martyr, pray for us.

It does not matter how right you are or how good you may be at a particular task. There will always be some people who will refuse to be your friends and accept you in your role. These can even be family members and not just “natural”enemies. David, despite his overall success, has many enemies, including his son. The troubles and trials of the struggle for power and influence are there even in religious realms.

13 An informant came to David with the report, “The children of Israel have transferred their loyalty to Absalom.” 14 At this, David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem: “Up! Let us take flight, or none of us will escape from Absalom. Leave quickly, lest he hurry and overtake us, then visit disaster upon us and put the city to the sword.” 30 As David went up the Mount of Olives, he wept without ceasing. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. All those who were with him also had their heads covered and were weeping as they went. 16: 5 As David was approaching Bahurim, a man named Shimei, the son of Gera of the same clan as Saul’s family, was coming out of the place, cursing as he came. 6 He threw stones at David and at all the king’s officers, even though all the soldiers, including the royal guard, were on David’s right and on his left. 7 Shimei was saying as he cursed: “Away, away, you murderous and wicked man! 8 The Lord has requited you for all the bloodshed in the family of Saul, in whose stead you became king, and the Lord has given over the kingdom to your son Absalom. And now you suffer ruin because you are a murderer.” 9 Abishai, son of Zeruiah, said to the king: “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over, please, and lop off his head.” 10 But the king replied: “What business is it of mine or of yours, sons of Zeruiah, that he curses? Suppose the Lord has told him to curse David; who then will dare to say, ‘Why are you doing this?’” 11 Then the king said to Abishai and to all his servants: “If my own son, who came forth from my loins, is seeking my life, how much more might this Benjaminite do so! Let him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. 12 Perhaps the Lord will look upon my affliction and make it up to me with benefits for the curses he is uttering this day.” 13 David and his men continued on the road, while Shimei kept abreast of them on the hillside, all the while cursing and throwing stones and dirt as he went.

1 [2] O Lord, how many are my adversaries! Many rise up against me! 2 [3] Many are saying of me, “There is no salvation for him in God.” (R) 3 [4] But you, O Lord, are my shield; my glory, you lift up my head! 4 [5] When I call out to the Lord, he answers me from his holy mountain. (R) 5 [6] When I lie down in sleep, I wake again, for the Lord sustains me. 6 [7] I fear not the myriads of people arrayed against me on every side. (R)

Poor pigs! What had they done to deserve being driven into a lake? The Jews do not eat pork, so perhaps another question might be, “Why are there pigs in this area in the first place?” Perhaps there were financial considerations — we are not told. However, the people were concerned about Jesus’ presence due to the loss of the pigs. Perhaps this indicates that they were more focused on making money than adhering to the Jewish way of life.

A great prophet has arisen in our midst and God has visited his people.

1 Jesus and his disciples came to the other side of the sea, to the territory of the Gerasenes. 2 When he got out of the boat, at once a man from the tombs who had an unclean spirit met him. 3 The man had been dwelling among the tombs, and no one could restrain him any longer, even with a chain. 4 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. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the hillsides he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones. 6 Catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran up and prostrated himself before him, 7crying 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!” 8 (He had been saying to him, “Unclean spirit, come out of the man!”) 9 He asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “Legion is my name. There are many of us.” 10And he pleaded earnestly with him not to drive them away from that territory. 11Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside. 12And they pleaded with him, “Send us into the swine. Let us enter them.” 13And 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. 14 The swineherds ran away and reported the incident in the town and throughout the countryside. And people came out to see what had happened. 15 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. 16 Those who witnessed the incident explained to them what had happened to the possessed man and to the swine. 17Then they began to beg him to leave their district. 18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed pleaded to remain with him. 19 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.” 20 Then the man went off and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him; and all were amazed.

think: We must always be on guard because the troubles and trials of the struggle for power and influence are there even in religious realms.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Acts 25-28

THANKS BUT NO THANKS

The Gospel today tells of the healing of the Gerasene demoniac. Naturally, the man once possessed by Legion joyfully proclaimed what great things Jesus had done for him. All were amazed but sadly only a few followed Him.

       And then the unimaginable happened. Near the end of the Gospel passage, we read about the people begging Jesus to leave their district because of what He had done with the herd of swine. Instead of thanking Him for healing the poor demoniac, they sent Him away. What does this speak of us? We find ourselves awed at the works of Jesus, yet do not, as we ought, wander after Him. We become mere “expectators,” hence, wasting the opportunity to receive His grace. We shy away from or send Him away. But Jesus, in His infinite wisdom, knew better than to get offended.

       Instead, He got on His boat, crossed the other side of the river and there continued spreading His healing love. At some point, He knew He needed to go. After some time, too, we need to go. Even the best ones do — Jesus included. We are invited to spread our goodness, not only where we are welcomed and appreciated, but even where we are persecuted or told to go away. Remember that Jesus blesses those who are willing to sacrifice, as He showed in His ultimate sacrifice on the Cross.

       Significantly, we remember today Saint Blaise, whose holiness was manifested through many miracles. People came to him to find cures for their spirit and their body. Before he was shamelessly martyred for not renouncing his faith, he cured a helpless child choking to death due to a fish-bone. Hence today, in all parishes, our pastors cross candles over our throats for protection against injuries and illnesses as they invoke the intercession of and healing from Saint Blaise.

       We need not be healers like Jesus or Saint Blaise. We only need to bear witness to their goodness and become sharers of love and care to others, especially those in the margins of the society. Fr. Erick Y. Santos, OFS

REFLECTION QUESTION: Have you ever driven Jesus away from your life? In what way?

Lord Jesus, may I welcome You each day, and embrace and share the grace You impart with other people.