Reflections on Scripture

Started by Nicholas, July 19, 2024, 02:09:02 PM

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Nicholas

Mk 5:14-20 Jesus heals the Gerasene demoniac

What grabbed me about this passage was that the people begged Jesus to leave. They were not violent with anger and ire, they simply begged him to leave. Why would they do this? To me it feels like they were scared. But what would they be afraid of? That He would do them more financial harm due to the swine they kept? Fear that the religious authorities would take notice and come? Fear that the Romans would take notice and bring violence?

Probably all of the above. None of that though is spiritual, none of that has anything to do with their souls. They were afraid of and for earthly matters in the face of miracles, in the presence of the Messiah.

How many of us today are no different than these villagers? More afraid of what might happen here than what will happen in eternity.

Nicholas

To take it even further, we are in the presence of the Messiah, the Christ, who comes to, among other things, cast out our demons, every time we attend Mass. In body, blood, soul, and divinity, He is there. Do we consume ourselves with earthly matters in His presence and ask Him to leave for fear that what He asks of us is too much, too big, too hard?

As has been made clear it is too much, too hard for me alone to do. It is only through Him, with Him, and in Him that what He asks is possible.

Nicholas

Lk 1:10-23 The birth of John the Baptist foretold

What caught me here are aspects of Zechariah being made mute. The obvious lesson is not to speak hasty words that show doubt or a lack of faith in the Lord your God, for it would be better to remain silent than to betray yourself in such a manner. I do not think this goes so far as to say you cannot ever express not understanding something, but Zechariah outright challenged the message. But even still, does that justify the punishment? To me there is more to it that needs to be taken into consideration.

First of all, this is an express fulfillment of Zechariah's (and his wife's) prayers. Second, he is a priest of high standing and should have commensurate faith. Third, he is in the Holy Place, that much closer to the earthly seat of God. Fourth, he is in the presence of a messenger of the mighty God. And fifth, he was told Yahweh has shown favor. Adding all this up and his incredulity and lack of faith are no longer insignificant. He should have taken a breath, thought about that situation and taken comfort in scripture, such as remembering Abraham, before saying anything. Had he been truly listening to Gabriel's message, he would have hear the Good News, that his son will make ready the people for the messiah to come.

Today we have a hard enough time listening to other people and truly hearing what they are saying, let alone hearing a message from God. We are so transfixed with ourselves that we do not have eyes to see or ears to hear. We need to learn from Zechariah, to take a breath, hear what is being said and try to understand it in our hearts and souls as best we can, lest we too be made mute.