June 20th - Reflection

Time after Pentecost - Lectionary 12
Luke 8:26-39 (NRSV)
Jesus casts out demons

Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me" - for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" He said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him. They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss.

Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.

Reflection
What are the demons in you? What are the demons in me? I think we all have a few demons in us that we need Jesus to send away. I think some of our demons torment us and tempt us and teach us to run from God and look to our own selves for healing. Demons of greed, excess, desires of the flesh that constantly torture us. And for most of us, it's not just one demon that has possessed us. But in this account, I see a compassionate and loving God that meets us in the wilderness to take away those demons that we may sit at his feet and worship our Lord and Savior.

Jesus knows the demons we deal with daily and comes to us in the pain and suffering to free us from the restraints that have been placed upon us to a new life in him. It's a battle...the demons come back again and again...but I know of a man that I can reach out to...even when I can't speak for myself...Jesus takes care of the demons for me...and frees me to be his.

Now return to your home and tell everyone what God has done for you. Tell it throughout the city and country.

Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, take these demons away! I am baptized and your child! Free me, I pray, that I may go forth today to tell everyone what you have done for me. --- Amen