The Gospel of Saint Matthew presents a fairly graphic account of the real effects of demons around us. It would be a false interpretation of this Gospel to consider Jesus’ action, or the story itself, as purely symbolic. Indeed, if demons were merely myth, Jesus would have had the moral obligation to stand clearly against such ideas. Instead, Jesus gives us a teaching on what the demons are capable of doing and what they are permitted to do. Swine represent what is filthy in the animal world. Demons seek out what is filthy, and so if they are obliged to leave one place, they seek out another place of filth. Spiritually, filth corresponds to vice, and vice is the place where the evil spirits like to take up residence. These two men, possessed of demons, live in the place of death: the tombs. Vice, like virtue, is a stable disposition – in other words, it is habitual and more difficult to change. The demons like to re-enforce and strengthen our vices so that we may be convinced they are impossible to overcome after we have made valiant attempts. Jesus shows us that it is possible to overcome these spirits by simply casting them out. Jesus even teaches us to cast out the demons in His name.
Monday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
“Following Christ,” is a rich metaphor for the Christian life. The Christian life implies movement: moving from Earth to Heaven. Christ is our guide, our leader, and if we want to end up where He is, we must follow. Sometimes following Christ seems easier, sometimes it seems harder, sometimes it may even seem impossible. In today’s Gospel, Mark tells us that when Jesus saw a crowd gathered around Him, He moved to the other side of the lake. Jesus actually separated Himself from those who were trying to follow Him. A scribe says to Him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus simply tells him that He will not stop anywhere in this world. The Son of Man only rests His head on the bosom of the Father. Finally another asks Jesus permission to take care of his filial duties before embarking on the final Sequitur Christi. Jesus’ answer shows that no duty is a greater priority than following Him.
Saturday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
The centurion always makes me stop to consider how immense Jesus’ mercy is. What boundless compassion He has for those who suffer. This man, this centurion, commands a hundred men, leads them and directs them. When he comes before Jesus he is so humbled, he simply admits that he is unworthy. This should strike us as somewhat strange because he is not an ordinary man, he is not a follower, he is not someone who just goes with the flow. Most of us, if we are honest, would be in agreement with this centurion – we are not worthy for Jesus to visit our house. However the difference is that this centurion is of higher standing than most of us. Even the mighty and those of high estate in this world must recognize their lowliness and humble themselves before the Lord.