In today’s Gospel Jesus performs an exorcism and drives demons out of two people possessed by these demons. The story is rich with symbolism. The story takes place in the territory of the Gadarenes, thus an “unclean” Gentile territory. The demoniacs were coming from the “unclean” tombs. Finally, the two people are possessed by demons or “unclean” spirits. Jesus drives the unclean spirits not only out of those possessed but into the “unclean” swine who drown in the sea. Thus, this whole Gentile territory is purified or made clean.
One of the key issues facing the early Jewish Christian community was how to deal with “unclean” Gentiles and Gentile converts. Could one even go into the house of an “unclean” Gentile? In the Acts of the Apostles Luke devotes two whole chapters to this issue (Acts 10-11). A voice from heaven teaches Peter three times: “What God has made clean; you are not to call profane.” (Acts 10:15). Prompted and pushed by the Spirit Peter goes and preaches in the house of the “unclean” Gentile Cornelius. Peter tells Cornelius and his household what God has taught him:
“You know that it is unlawful for a Jewish man to associate with, or visit, a Gentile, but God has shown me that I should not call any person profane or unclean.” (Acts 10:28).
Today’s Gospel teaches two important lessons: 1) Jesus is more powerful than any demonic forces and has come to drive them out. 2) No one is unclean in God’s eyes since all have been created in God’s image and likeness.
We are followers of Jesus the exorcist and healer. Like Jesus we are called to accept all God’s people and never to exclude someone as unclean or less than human. This means it is against God’s will and a sin to bully and/or demonize someone else be they of a different religion, nationality, or political party. We are called to be healers and reconcilers as disciples and followers of Jesus.
Image: “Christ heals a possessed man at Gerasa” is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0.