A Reflection on the Daily Gospel by Deacon Joe Coan
Wednesday, July 1, 2020
When he came to the other side, to the territory of the Gadarenes (a Greek territory), two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him. They were so savage that no one could travel by that road. They cried out saying, “What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?” Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding. The demons pleaded with him, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine.” And he said to them,”Go then!” They came out and entered the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea where they drowned. The swine herders ran away and when they came into the town they reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs. Therefore the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district.
A critic got a last-minute concert assignment. It annoyed him because he had to postpone a dinner date with some friends. An hour later the son of the featured soloist of the concert died suddenly. The critic phoned his friends: Good news! The soloist's son died. They've canceled the concert.” Suddenly the critic realized what he had said. The death of the soloist's son was not “good” news; it was “tragic” news.
In our reading today, two men are healed at the expense of some pigs. But instead of rejoicing, the people are angry at the loss of their pigs.
To what extent do we let our personal pleasures blind us to the more basic needs of others?
As St. Paul tells us . . .
“If one part of the body suffers, all the other parts suffer with it; if one part is praised, all the other parts share its happiness”
1 Corinthians 12:26
