WEEK NINE: MIRACLES, SIGNS OF THE KINGDOM DAY 1
MORNING FACE TO FACE WITH GOD:
Begin with Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Prayer on Mark 5: 3; 6-8; 10-13: The Healing of the Gerasene Demoniac: "The man had been dwelling among the tombs, and no one could restrain him any longer, even with a chain...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!")...And he pleaded earnestly with him not to drive them away from that territory... And he let them, and the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine." [Please read Mark 5: 1-20].
Read the Reflection; then pray using Mark 5: 1-20; ask for an intimate knowledge of our Lord, who has become man for me, that I may love Him more and follow Him more closely (#104)
Jesus is in Gerasa which is in Gentile territory. That explains the presence of a large herd of swine. Most probably the man possessed with unclean spirits was a Gentile. He was dwelling among the tombs, and no one could restrain him, not even with chains. In His ministry, Jesus is about destroying the power of Satan, overthrowing his dominion over people, and this man in particular. In the encounter between Jesus and the unclean spirits, they concede defeat because they know that Jesus is the Son of the Most High God. Jesus accedes to their request to inhabit the herd of swine rather than this man. As unclean animals, swine are a better dwelling place for them than humans. The change in the Gerasene man is amazing, eliciting a response of wanting to remain in Jesus' company: "the man who had been possessed pleaded to remain with him" (Mark 5: 18). Instead, Jesus sends him on a mission, asking him to witness to his family and friends: "Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you" (Mark 5: 19). The response of Jesus' listeners was typical of anyone witnessing a miracle. They were amazed.
"Unclean spirit come out of the man!" Look
at the contrast between the man tormented by evil seeking Jesus, wanting Jesus and being healed by Jesus and the group living a comfortable life, not aware they needed Jesus and sending Jesus away. Jesus knocked on their door, He came to their community and healed the demoniac that had been tormenting the community and they send Jesus away not recognizing their own need for saving. Why would anyone do that? Numb to sin, numb to their environment, they hadn't felt the pain yet. Jesus in this story allowed each to make their own decisions and He honored their wishes. Jesus does not force His way, He invites and then you decide.
What is God saying to you?
Dear Lord God, give us the grace to recognize the opportunity to encounter Your love when You offer the invitation. I thank You for the mission fields that I have been sent too and the opportunities to share Your story of healing. Lord, the comfort of this world is deceptive and deceives us into a false sense of security. Pain as much as it hurts makes us aware of the reality of the situation and causes us to seek You out. Prayers for a friend in the early stages of dementia at peace with life, prayers for another who just entered hospice for cancer. You know how we are to be healed, Jesus, we trust in You, Amen.
Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4b
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