Today's gospel passage describes an encounter that Jesus had with a man who was possessed by an unclean spirit and who dwelt among the tombs (cf Mk 5:2). This poor man had probably been shunned by his family, friends and community and found himself confined to a graveyard - where very few other living humans were to be found. This man crossed paths with Jesus that day, and their meeting provided Jesus with an opportunity to make a difference in his life. The writer of the gospel of Mark goes into quite some detail so that we are aware of the extent of this man's suffering, but Jesus is portrayed as meeting him only for a moment: a significant moment.
This story allows us to know the depth of the possessed man's suffering (cf Mk 5:3-5) but it also allows us to see the tender and merciful heart of Jesus in action. Mark does not tell us the precise words that Jesus spoke to the possessed man, except that he continually called the unclean spirit to come out of him (Mk 5:8). We can imagine that Jesus would have been extremely respectful of the person who was standing in front of him. Although he was firm in his commands for the unclean spirit to leave him alone, he was also tenderly concerned for the well-being of the man who had been suffering for so long.
Eventually, Jesus was able to convince the unclean spirits to leave the man alone. He (Jesus) probably didn't make friends that day with the swine herders but he managed to restore health to the man who had been tormented for far too long. Perhaps worried that Jesus had managed to destroy a herd of swine that was relatively considerable in size, the townsfolk asked him to leave the territory of the Gerasenes, and as he was preparing to leave, the man who had been made clean wanted to go with him (cf Mk 5:18). This is understandable, but Jesus knew that the man could do more good sharing the story of his own encounter with others, so he told him: Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord ... has done for you (Mk 5:19).
Jesus is constantly at work, encountering us each day and doing wonderful things in and through us. He is always calling us to do our part to share the news of all that he is doing in our lives with our family members and friends and with those we meet. Not everyone's story is as dramatic as the Gerasene demoniac's encounter, but each of us has a story to tell. Open your ears today to listen in love to the adventures that are recounted by those you meet. You never know who will share a tale of faith with you, and if the opportunity should present itself, be willing to share your own story with others. We have no idea how our lived example may influence another person who is thirsting for the life-giving presence that an encounter with our God can give.
Have a great day.
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