JESUS passes the Gentile territory where two demoniacs terrorize passers-by. Seeing Jesus, they cry out “What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?” They beg rather to be sent into a nearby herd of swine instead of torment. Jesus obliges saying “Go, then” and immediately the swine rush down a steep slope to the sea, drowning themselves. The swineherds, amazed, go into the town to tell everyone what Jesus has done, and the townspeople come out to meet Jesus. Instead of honoring him - they beg him to leave!
So the men possessed by the devil recognized Jesus as the Son of God, but the townspeople seemingly did not. Instead of recognizing his divinity, they seemed to be afraid of him. Perhaps they were afraid of his amazing power and saw only that their herds of swine were destroyed. Saw only the superficial reality of the frightening events. In effect they were saying to Jesus the words of the demoniacs: “What have you to do with us?”
Reflecting on this reading I asked myself when and how do I ask Jesus to leave? How do I avoid him? When do I say “What have you to do with me? What have I to do with you?” Am I afraid of letting Jesus get too close? I once read that fear of being overwhelmed by Jesus can lead us to avoid real prayer. To step back from the intimacy God invites us to in prayer. The power of God can surely lead me to try to escape, afraid of what may be asked of me.
I pray that when I am tempted to run away from that encounter with the Holy One I do not fear but surrender wholeheartedly.
Suzanne Braddock
Creighton University and I are old friends, first as a medical resident in a program shared with The University of Nebraska then forty plus years as a parishioner at St John’s, the campus church. Now retired from a gratifying but busy medical practice I enjoy the quiet hours and nature.
Writing these reflections is a challenge and a grace, bringing me closer to the meaning of the Scriptures and the love God wants us to understand.
