Saturday, March 22, 2014

Saturday, March 22, 2014

Mark 5:1-20

“Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighborhood.”

Today’s Gospel is a fascinating story.  Could the named demon (Legion) be a reference to the occupying Roman forces? If so, the story packs a political punch: Jesus is seen as one who challenges the imperial establishment. Within the story, this may explain the crowd’s reaction. Any threat to the status quo challenges their comfort but also may bring Roman backlash. Possibly.

Or, maybe there is a more interpersonal reading. Instead of responding with gratitude, the crowd lashes out in fear. Why? Couldn’t they appreciate that Jesus had restored the life of this wounded man? Didn’t they see that Jesus removed the threat of his violent behavior?

Yes, I suppose they recognized both these facts, but maybe they saw a deeper truth in Jesus’ actions that day.  If Jesus could restore the life of the demoniac, maybe he would ask the town to restore him to life in their community. Reconciling with someone who has hurt us deeply requires more miraculous powers than casting out his demons. And, in this case, the hurt had gone both ways. After all, to manage their fears, they had attempted to chain the man who was their cause.

Sure, Jesus calmed the violence today, but had the man really changed? If the demons found a hospitable home once, it stands to reason that they would again. Would Jesus invite them to be in relationship with someone who might pose a threat in the future?

Whether we see this story through the wide-angle lens of political interpretation or through the close-up lens of our interpersonal relationships, Jesus presents a challenge. As such, the story is appropriate for this season of Lent. When we meditate on it, we are asked to consider all those around us we marginalize, all those we try to shackle and chain by ignoring them (or worse). We are even asked to look deep inside to confront our own “demons.”

I’m challenged by Jean Vanier’s spiritual vision for society. To follow Jesus, he teaches, means making friends with those who suffer. I don’t know about you, but most times I am afraid to face my own wounds or the pain of those around me. Jesus is already in our neighborhood in places of suffering. In our fear that he will challenge our status quo, will we beg Jesus to leave?

-David Shumaker