and cried with a loud voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, son of the Most High God? For
God’s sake I beg you, do not torment me.” He said this because Jesus had commanded,
“Come out of the man, evil spirit.” And when Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” he
replied, “Legion is my name, for we are many.”

Now, a great herd of pigs was feeding on the hillside, and the evil spirits begged him,
“Send us to the pigs and let us go into them.” So Jesus let them go. The evil spirits came out
of the man and went into the pigs,The herdsmen fled and reported this in the town. They were
afraid. And when those who had seen it told what had happened to the man and to the pigs, the
people begged Jesus to leave their neighbourhood.

When Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed begged to stay
with him. Jesus would not let him and said, “Go home to your people and tell them how
much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you.”

Reflect.

The importance of community shines through the readings today. The Letter to the Hebrews
recounts the ancestors of the Jewish people, their accomplishments and their struggles. In the
Gospel, Jesus’ last instruction to the man he has healed is to return to his community.

We too are called to community. Building and maintaining that community seems more challenging
every day. We substitute digital connections for real ones. We prioritize individualism and treat self-
sufficiency as a goal. The practice of mutual aid and community organization – neighbors
helping neighbors – seems to be a thing of the past. We are even more distant from people who are
geographically distant or who are part of different social, religious, cultural, or economic groups.
That distance is not the reality to which Jesus calls us. We are called to become one body, to care
for our brothers and sisters – to reach out in love, service, and concern. Like the man Jesus healed, we
can share with others the good news of Jesus that has transformed our lives.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2023