My Name is Legion

They came to the other side of the lake, to the country of the Gerasenes. And when he had stepped out of the boat, immediately a man out of the tombs with an unclean spirit met him. He lived among the tombs; and no one could restrain him any more, even with a chain; for he had often been restrained with shackles and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the shackles he broke in pieces; and no one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always howling and bruising himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him; and he shouted at the top of his voice, ‘What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.’ For he had said to him, ‘Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!’ Then Jesus asked him, ‘What is your name?’ He replied, ‘My name is Legion; for we are many.’ He begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. Now there on the hillside a great herd of swine was feeding; and the unclean spirits begged him, ‘Send us into the swine; let us enter them.’ So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the lake, and were drowned in the lake. The swineherds ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came to see what it was that had happened. They came to Jesus and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the legion; and they were afraid. Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighborhood. As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him. But Jesus refused, and said to him, ‘Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy he has shown you.’ And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed. Mark 5:1-20

There are those among us who have suffered so much from inner and outer torment. that they are filled with rage and cannot contain their hurt. Others have imbalances that manifest in frightening ways. When folks hurt, they tend to hurt themselves and others. Jesus had just calmed the wind and sea when he came ashore to encounter a violent and sick man who everyone had given up on. And Jesus looked on him with compassion and healed the hosts of angry demons within. But his healing upset the life that people were used to, as if they wanted the poor man to stay sick and tormented.  They begged Jesus to leave them alone. The hard truth of this story is that we can pray for healing, but we often don't want to live with the responsibility to be whole and live to serve others. Hurting, anger, rage and abuse are easier to deal out than kindness, compassion and support. We are invited rejoice in the healing we have and use it for the benefit of others.

Gracious Creator, you healed even monsters

the legions of torturing spirits you released

into a herd of swine and sent the evil far away

and changed the raging one into a loving friend.

We too often are entertained by others' pain

we want our healing with no responsibility

we think ourselves victims and the suffering

when your love have enfolded us every day.

Help us to see the healing and blessing given

make us humble enough to be deeply grateful

make us ready always to serve the hurting ones

and release your loving kindness to the world. Amen.