From the Deacon's Desk

Each day, I reflect upon a word or a phrase inspired by the readings of the day. I encourage you to do the same and perhaps incorporate that word or phrase into your daily prayer.

Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district. (Matthew 8:34)

OVERWHELMED BY HIS POWER: To give context to this gospel passage, Jesus had driven demons out of two men and into a herd of swine. The swine then rushed down a steep bank into the sea where they drowned. Upon hearing this news, the townspeople asked Jesus to leave the area.

Of what were the townspeople afraid? Was it that Jesus was destructive? If he wiped out a herd of swine that quickly, what else might he destroy?

Were they afraid of the unknown? They had never seen or heard of a man capable of such things. Was he a sorcerer?

More likely, it was an act of self-preservation; the townspeople were protecting themselves. Would Jesus be able to see into their hearts and recognize the demons within? If so, how would they deal with the shame and humiliation of being “called out” by Jesus. The thought of this man Jesus knowing their hearts – their thoughts, desires, frailties – was overwhelming.

Is this why we keep Jesus at arms length? Are we afraid of what he might discover in us? Are we burdened with shame and guilt by what he will find in our hearts?

Instead of focusing on the demons in the gospel story today, why not focus on the two men after the demons were driven out? They were made clean. The powerful mercy of Jesus gave them a fresh start and a new perspective on life.

Jesus can do the same for us. However, we need to let him in rather than ask him to “leave our district.”