Luke 8:26-39
26 Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27 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. 28 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”— 29 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.) 30 Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “Legion”; for many demons had entered him. 31 They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss.
32 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. 33 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. 34 When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. 35 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.
36 Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. 37 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. 38 The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “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.
Declare how much God has done for you!
Let us remember the context of this Miracle of the Swine. The district's Aramaic name means expelled people. It seems that pagans and Jews who defied their Biblical ordinances were living together in this district. Today, wild boars still live in this area by the ancient tombs and the Sea of Galilee.
Due to a contagious disease and for the protection of the community, the Old Testament says to "purge the evil from among you" (Deuteronomy 17:7). A disease was considered the result of sin and evil. In John 9:2 the disciples ask, "Master, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
Cemeteries were always outside inhabited areas and available for excluded people to use. To deter contamination, the general population had no right to approach an expelled people. Priests held the official power to decide when to expel or reintegrate a person. After Jesus healed the ten lepers, he said "Go, show yourselves to the priests" in Luke 17:14.
In today's Gospel, Jesus teaches us, among other things, that nobody is excluded from God's love and mercy. Love is active. It always takes the first step, as we see Jesus doing here.
Human life and dignity are more precious than creatures and business, in this case like swine and raising livestock. Jesus is not accepted by the Gerasene people. They don't consider the good he does and they prioritize their own interests. They ask him to leave their region.
Evil spirits recognize Jesus as the "Son of the Most High God" (V. 28). The evil spirits prayed to Jesus, recognizing his almighty power (V. 32). This miracle shows how Jesus cares about uprooting evil and restoring good.
We are invited to take a few minutes to read the text again and reflect upon it. Ask yourself these points:
Our reciprocated love to God, is it really active?
Do we initiate bridges of reconciliation and loving care with others?
Are we aware that demons acknowledge God's presence and also pray, but the Lord wants us to live our prayers through our actions?
Do we tell others how much God does for us?
Remain with the Lord as you return home. Ask Him to join you.