“What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I
adjure you by God, do not torment me!” (He had been saying to him,
“Unclean spirit, come out of the man!”) He asked him, “What is your
name?” He replied, “Legion is my name. There are many of us.” Mark
5:7–9
To most people, such an encounter would be terrifying. This man
whose words are recorded above was possessed by a multitude of
demons. He lived on the hillsides among various caves by the sea,
and no one wanted to go near him. He was a violent man, crying out
day and night, and all the townspeople were fearful of him. But
when this man saw Jesus at a distance, something amazing happened.
Instead of Jesus being terrified of the man, the multitude of
demons possessing the man became terrified of Jesus. Jesus then
commanded the many demons to leave the man and enter a herd of
about two thousand swine instead. The swine immediately ran down
the hill into the sea and drowned. The possessed man returned to
normal, becoming clothed and in his right mind. All who saw him
were amazed.
Clearly, this brief summary of the story does not adequately
explain the terror, trauma, confusion, suffering, etc., that this
man endured during the years of his diabolical possession. And it
does not adequately explain the grave suffering of this man's
family and friends, as well as the disorder caused to the local
townspeople as a result of his possession. Thus, to better
understand this story, it is useful to contrast the
before-and-after experience of all involved. It was very difficult
for everyone to comprehend how this man could go from being
possessed and out of his mind to calm and rational. For that
reason, Jesus told the man to “Go home to your family and announce
to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.” Imagine
the mix of joy, confusion and disbelief that his family would have
experienced.
If Jesus could transform the life of this man who was completely
possessed by a Legion of demons, then no one is ever without hope.
Too often, especially within our families and among old friends,
there are those whom we have written off as irredeemable. There are
those who have gone so far astray that they seem hopeless. But one
thing this story tells us is that hope is never lost for anyone—not
even those completely possessed by a multitude of demons.
Reflect, today, upon anyone in your life whom you have written off.
Perhaps they have hurt you over and over. Or perhaps they have
chosen a life of grave sin. Look at that person in the light of
this Gospel and know that there is always hope. Be open to God
acting through you in a profound and powerful way so that even the
most seemingly irredeemable person you know will be given hope
through you.
My most powerful Lord, I offer to You, this day, the person whom
I call to mind who is most in need of Your redeeming grace. May I
never lose hope in Your ability to transform their life, to forgive
their sins and to bring them back to You. Use me, dear Lord, to be
an instrument of Your mercy, so that they will come to know You and
experience the freedom You so deeply desire that they receive.
Jesus, I trust in You.
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