Bruising himself with stones

Greetings on this the Monday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: 2 Sm 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13; PS 3:2-3, 4-5, 6-7; Mk 5:1-20

Notes

The story of King David and his son Absalom is a tragic story. While we are reading from chapters 15 and 16, by chapter 18 his son is dead and the immediate uprising is over. Yet the entirety of the Book of Samuel is filled with warmaking and infighting. The Books of 1st and 2nd Kings retells the story as a gradual degradation of Israel going from Judges (judgeship) to monarchy to disintegration, to a complete downfall of the divided kingdom.

This is the path of men. We just can’t stop fighting one another. In fact when we fail to be retrospective, the evil intensifies, consolidates, and becomes even more deadly.
This cycle of violence is evident in the first reading. The presence of evil demonics, and their urging us on to our worst instincts, is evident in the gospel portion today.

Obeying inferior instincts and subjecting ourselves to evil influence is the ruination of man. We become the Gerasene victim: Night and day among the tombs and on the hillsides he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones. As to the others, not having hope in the Lord, left him to the worst of it. The man had been dwelling among the tombs, and no one could restrain him any longer, even with a chain. In fact, he had frequently been bound with shackles and chains, but the chains had been pulled apart by him and the shackles smashed, and no one was strong enough to subdue him.

Summary

The gospel reading of the Gerasene Demonic is attested to in the three Synoptic gospels. The story gives the worst case example of human person given over to the absence of good, in themselves and in the demons. We, collectively: Bruise ourselves with stones.

Reflection

Jesus did not hesitate to help him. And people came out to see what had happened. As they approached Jesus, they caught sight of the man who had been possessed by Legion, sitting there clothed and in his right mind. And they were seized with fear.

For a deeper look at the scriptural intercalations: We pick up this story again in Mk 7:31 forward. After telling his healing story to the 10 cities… Jesus comes back, heals the deaf man with a very physical earthy technique. Then the deaf healed man, preaches to all of the Decapolis. (https://deacongerrypalermo.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/the-gospel-of-mark-a-study-v3.pdf)

Personal Reflection

It is critical to know when you are circling the drain and falling into a way of being and a mindset that is absent the divine. It’s an ugly place where we bruise ourselves with stones. Jesus, with a word, can dispatch the demons and expel them from you and your family and allow us like him: to sitting there clothed and in his right mind.

First Reading

David Flees Jerusalem.

Shimei was saying as he cursed: “Away, away, you murderous and wicked man! The LORD has requited you for all the bloodshed in the family of Saul, in whose stead you became king, and the LORD has given over the kingdom to your son Absalom. And now you suffer ruin because you are a murderer.”

Responsorial

Lord, rise up and save me.

Gospel Acclamation

A great prophet has arisen in our midst and God has visited his people.

Gospel

At once a man from the tombs who had an unclean spirit met him. The man had been dwelling among the tombs, and no one could restrain him any longer, even with a chain. In fact, he had frequently been bound with shackles and chains, but the chains had been pulled apart by him and the shackles smashed, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the hillsides he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones.

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry