In today’s Gospel we have a classic battle between good and evil, Jesus against an unclean spirit who calls himself “Legion…there are many of us.” This unclean spirit tries to do battle with Jesus, even claiming to have power over him because he knows who he is: “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God.” Of course, this demon is no match for the power of God and Jesus quickly dispatches him into the swine who carry the unclean spirit into the sea.
This strange Gospel story is filled with images of uncleanness. It takes place in an unclean Gentile territory on the other side of the Sea of Galilee. The man has an “unclean” spirit. He lived among the “unclean” tombs. Jesus expels the unclean spirit into the “unclean” swine. Jesus not only frees this man from this unclean spirit but also “cleanses” the unclean territory of the Gentiles by expelling the demon into the deep sea of chaos. Mark is teaching by this strange and therefore memorable story that Jesus mission to all, even to outcasts, be they unclean lepers or unclean Gentiles. All are acceptable in God’s eyes because all have been created in God’s image and likeness. Jesus’ mission is to bring about “release” from both physical and spiritual aliments:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” (Luke 4:18-19).
Jesus releases those who are possessed by demons and those who are possessed by guilt and anxiety. Jesus reveals the one true God as the God of love who is patient and rich in mercy:
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ (by grace you have been saved), raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For by grace, you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God…” (Ephesians 2:4-8).
Even if our sins and transgressions are many and even legions God is always ready to forgive us. Today let us accept this gift of God’s mercy and love. Jesus is ready and willing to release us and free us from the things that enslave us.
Image: “Jesus Heals a Demon Possessed Man” https://possess-the-vision.com/seeking-jesus/passing-from-the-way-and-into-the-truth/jesus-casts-out-demons/