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| “Exorcism at Gerasenes” by James Tissot, c. 1890’s |
Commentary:
Reading 1: Hebrews 11:32-40
Commentary on Heb 11:32-40
The Pauline author considers his theme of faith (Hebrews 11:1). He tells his audience he did not come to proclaim the prophets, whom he describes as righteous and brave while giving a short list of examples. He explains that, while they did what was good in the eyes of God, they did not receive the promise that is made to the followers of Christ. It is only through Christ that resurrection and salvation may be achieved.
"In God's mysterious plan those who belonged to the time of 'shadow' (Hebrews 10:1) and we who belong to the time of fulfillment would be 'made perfect' together by the one sacrifice of Christ (Hebrews 10:14). What they had in anticipation we now have in reality. Yet Christians too walk by faith, since we too still await the full consummation of the promise (Hebrews 10:36)" [4]
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Responsorial Psalm: Ps 31:20, 21, 22, 23, 24
R. (25) Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.
Commentary on Ps 31:20, 21, 22, 23, 24
The complete psalm is an individual lament. This selection is a song of thankfulness and praise for God whose mercy is boundless and his forgiveness complete. We hear some of the pleading of the psalmist who has endured hardship and thought this was due to God forsaking him. But the Lord had not forgotten him and returned to comfort him.
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Gospel: Mark 5:1-20
Commentary on Mk 5:1-20
This is St. Mark’s version of Jesus casting out the multitude of demons and sending them into the herd of swine. Swine [pigs] are considered unclean animals under Hebrew dietary laws (Leviticus 11:7-8. This action not only reinforces Jesus’ universal mission, but adds a dimension of symbolism. It is important to note that this is a pagan region, so what the Lord is doing in helping the man with unclean spirits is ministering to non-Hebrews, indicating the breadth of his mission. Also in this story, the demon addresses him as “Jesus, Son of the Most High God,” a title that identifies him clearly and without equivocation as the Messiah.
“Allegorically (St. Bede, In Marcum): the demoniac represents the Gentile nations saved by Christ. As pagans, they once lived apart from God amid the tombs of dead works, while their sins were performed in service of demons. Through Christ the pagans are at last cleansed and freed from Satan’s domination.” [5]
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Reflection:
Perhaps one of the most important statements we are given today may seem anticlimactic. The man Jesus had cured asked, even pleaded, with Jesus to stay with him. Rather than accepting his offer, the Lord sent him back to his own people with the words: “Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.”
The message we can take from this incident is that, what God does for us, he does out of his great love for us. We do not earn his mercy or his salvation; it is given to us because God has a special love for us. We can think of it as we think of what a good parent does for his or her child. What right do children have to expect all of the good things parents give them? What effort on the part of children causes the parent to lavish their love upon them? It is not some merit in the child that causes or entitles the child to this love; rather it is the natural love the parent feels for the life that they, with God’s help and grace, brought into the world.
We have seen children try to do things that please their loving parents. They are eager to please them, especially when they are young. Do we not act the same way toward God our father? Are we not anxious to act in ways that we feel should make that heavenly parent happy? But think of the reward God promises. It is not an allowance or a special treat, it is the grace and peace of Christ; it is the resurrection on the last day. There is nothing we as human beings could do to make ourselves worthy of so great a prize.
Today let us give thanks to God the loving Father, who, through his great love for us, gave his only Son so that we, who are totally unworthy, might enjoy an eternity with him.
Pax
[1] The picture is “Exorcism at Gerasenes” by James Tissot, c. 1890’s
[4] Hebrews, by Mary Healy © 2016, Baker Academic, Grand Rapids MI, p.255.
[5] Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, © 2010, Ignatius Press, San Francisco, CA. p.74.
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