Abiding Peace – October 12
Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 1, 2, 3; PM Psalm 4, 7, Micah 7:1-7; Acts 26:1-23; Luke 8:26-39
In Luke 8, Jesus is in a boat with his disciples crossing the Sea of Galilee. The winds kick up and the disciples cry out in terror, waking him up, “Master, master – we are perishing!” Jesus responds, “Where is your faith?” and commands the winds to obey. There is immediate calm.
And then, we get to the gospel appointed for today, where Jesus casts out the demons – called “Legion” – from the wild Gerasene man. Luke writes that “for a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs.” The unclean spirit within him rendered him as tempestuous as the stormy waters of the sea, for he needed to be vigilantly watched and often broke out of the chains and shackles, only to flee into the surrounding deserts. This unpredictable mess of a man approaches Jesus and falls before him in humility. Jesus commands the demon – and then multiple demons – to leave the afflicted, nearly naked man. Rather than being vanquished to the abyss, “Legion” are permitted by Jesus to inhabit a herd of neighboring hogs, which readily plummets down into the lake.
The once-wild reprobate is exorcised. Rather than a shell of man quaking from trauma, the people observe him sitting docile, clothed, and in his right mind at the feet of Jesus. He is wholly healed with a new lease on life. Rather than welcome the man as an additional traveling disciple, Jesus directs him to testify to the Good News of restoration and healing: “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.”
Notice the parallel movement from chaos to calm in the stormy sea and the afflicted Gerasene. Jesus rebukes the disruptions, restoring both the safety of the disciples in the boat and the life of the possessed man upon the land (while sending the demons to the abyss, anyway!).
This story reminds me that states of “calm” and “healed” do not mean the next steps are easy. The Gerasene man was saved from the affliction of demons, yet he had the challenge of showing his community – people he scared and scarred – that he was truly transformed by God’s grace. The holy work of repair is hard and slow-going. If you are praying for clarity and working toward restoration, invite someone to support and encourage you. Lean upon God for hope and look for helpers to be partners in the process. May God’s abiding peace be upon you this day.
With God’s help,
Katherine+
Connections in Your Life
Reflect on the nuances between healing and repair in your own life.
Journal about a time or issue that comes to mind. Is the healing complete? Is the repair complete? How can reflecting on this event shape the way you understand God’s grace? Consider this prayer from the Book of Common Prayer (p. 461):
For Trust in God
O God, the source of all health: So fill my heart with faith in your love, that with calm expectancy I may make room for your power to possess me, and gracefully accept your healing; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.