Daily Retreat 01/29/07
2007 Jan 29 Mon
Heb 11: 32-40/ Ps 30(31): 20. 21. 22. 23. 24/ Mk 5: 1-20
From today’s readings: “God had foreseen something better for us, so that without us they should not be made perfect.... Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.... Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in His pity has done for you.”
Home Missions
Mark’s report of the healing of the Gerasene demoniac is the longest exorcism account in all of the gospels, and the intriguing details tells much about the characteristics of demonic possession and expulsion. But today, I want to just focus on the final three verses: as Jesus was embarking to leave the region, the man who had been possessed by Legion pleaded with our Lord, asking for permission to come with Him. But surprisingly, Jesus denied the grateful request, telling the man instead, “Go to your home, to your family, and announce to them what the Lord has done for you, and that He has had mercy on you.” And the man did just that, proclaiming not just to his family, but to all ten of the cities of the region what Jesus had done for Him, and all were amazed.
Since the reason is not given in the gospel, there’s a lot of speculation on why Jesus didn’t welcome the dispossessed man fully aboard as a disciple. Whatever the reason may have been, Jesus certainly would not have denied anyone the opportunity to grow in faithful discipleship. But as always, Jesus knew best the way and the where in which that man, and each one of us as well, could and would serve Him best.
I remember my missionary zeal as a seminarian, committing myself to go wherever in the world Jesus wanted me to go with Him, and lo, here I am, having been sent to serve as pastor in the little town of Okanogan! Because, for myself and for most of us, Jesus doesn’t call us to exotic missionary travels in His name - instead, our mission from the Lord is simply to go to our own people and announce in word and action the good news about what the Lord has done - what He’s done throughout salvation history, and what He’s done personally in our own lives, and that He’s shown us His mercy. Because, wherever we are, when we faithfully do what He taught us to do, when we share fully the Gospel, the whole world takes note!
Heb 11: 32-40/ Ps 30(31): 20. 21. 22. 23. 24/ Mk 5: 1-20
From today’s readings: “God had foreseen something better for us, so that without us they should not be made perfect.... Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord.... Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in His pity has done for you.”
Home Missions
Mark’s report of the healing of the Gerasene demoniac is the longest exorcism account in all of the gospels, and the intriguing details tells much about the characteristics of demonic possession and expulsion. But today, I want to just focus on the final three verses: as Jesus was embarking to leave the region, the man who had been possessed by Legion pleaded with our Lord, asking for permission to come with Him. But surprisingly, Jesus denied the grateful request, telling the man instead, “Go to your home, to your family, and announce to them what the Lord has done for you, and that He has had mercy on you.” And the man did just that, proclaiming not just to his family, but to all ten of the cities of the region what Jesus had done for Him, and all were amazed.
Since the reason is not given in the gospel, there’s a lot of speculation on why Jesus didn’t welcome the dispossessed man fully aboard as a disciple. Whatever the reason may have been, Jesus certainly would not have denied anyone the opportunity to grow in faithful discipleship. But as always, Jesus knew best the way and the where in which that man, and each one of us as well, could and would serve Him best.
I remember my missionary zeal as a seminarian, committing myself to go wherever in the world Jesus wanted me to go with Him, and lo, here I am, having been sent to serve as pastor in the little town of Okanogan! Because, for myself and for most of us, Jesus doesn’t call us to exotic missionary travels in His name - instead, our mission from the Lord is simply to go to our own people and announce in word and action the good news about what the Lord has done - what He’s done throughout salvation history, and what He’s done personally in our own lives, and that He’s shown us His mercy. Because, wherever we are, when we faithfully do what He taught us to do, when we share fully the Gospel, the whole world takes note!
posted by FrPitstick | 1/24/2007
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