Return Home - Trinity Sunday

Trinity Sunday, June 16th, 2019

Jesus and his disciples arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me" -- for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" He said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him. They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss.

Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him. Luke 8:26-39

Every young person returns home for the first time a completely changed being. Throughout our lives we and changed by experiences both transforming and challenging. When we return home from these moments, we know we are not the same. Our people often expect us to be just like we were - for good and for ill. They expect nothing different from us, even though we know we are so very different. Returning home has to start with telling our stories, hoping that those who love us will take us in again, in a whole new way.

The man was once a threat to himself and others. His family and community had written him off, sent him away, chaining him up for "his own good". Jesus came and healed him and then left him to tell his own story. Some of his community and people had witnessed the event and told their tales. The young man though, was afraid to return home. He knew what they thought of him and how he had been treated. He wanted to go with Jesus and start a new life away from the judgment and shame. Jesus sent him home to tell his story, to share it widely and to demonstrate to his own kin that God was near them all. We are invited, when we want to run away, to share the love and healing we have been given. When running feels like the only option, God calls us to dig deep and be reconcilers.

Today, I ask God to help me always return home with love and forgiveness. May we share our stories so that others can know that God is always near.

Collect

O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving­kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.