Ord. Wk 4th February 4, 2019
Reflection on the WORD
Rejection of God: In today’s Gospel, Jesus was able to expel the “Legion” of unclean spirits through His divine power. However, the people remained obstinate and refused to believe in the Good News. Are our experiences of Jesus Protective Love deep enough to give us a fearless faith from evil spirits?
Mk 5:2,6b-10,12-13,16-17
When Jesus disembarked, a man with an unclean spirit at once came out from the tombs towards him and fell at his feet and shouted at the top of his voice, ‘What do you want with me, Jesus, son of the Most High God? In God's name do not torture me!’ For Jesus had been saying to him, ‘Come out of the man, unclean spirit.’ Then he asked, ‘What is your name?’
He answered, ‘My name is Legion, for there are many of us.’ And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the district. The unclean spirits begged him, ‘Send us to the pigs, let us go into them.’ So he gave them leave. With that, the unclean spirits came out and went into the pigs, and the herd of about two thousand pigs charged down the cliff into the lake, and there they were drowned.
And those who had witnessed it reported what had happened to the demoniac and what had become of the pigs. Then they began to implore Jesus to leave their neighbourhood.
Today's Pointers on God's Word
As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?
- •Today's gospel talks about Jesus freeing a man who has been possessed by a whole legion of evil spirits. Jesus moved with deep Mercy and Compassion, freed him of his sufferings.
- •Jesus clearly shows that His divinity is infinitely more powerful than all the evil spirits and negative forces in the world that can destroy us.
- •Yet, the crowd who saw such power of Jesus did not want to have anything to do with Jesus. How often do we also, want to continue our lifestyles and retain our habitual self-centredness instead of changing for the better and be more Christ-like in our daily living?