Daily Catholic Lectio. Mon, 29 Jan 2024. Go home!

Daily Catholic Lectio

Mon, 29 January 2024

Monday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

2 Samuel 15:13-14, 30, 16:5-13. Mark 5:1-20

Go home!

Jesus sends off the demon-possessed person (later healed), who wants to follow him; he further instructs him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you.”

The gospel reading of the day is a very good example of how to admire Mark as a skilled storyteller. Jesus heals a demon(s)-possessed – about 6000 spirits, 1 Legion. This very act of Jesus becomes an occasion for the people to reject him. The people of the town valued their sunk pigs (about 2000) more than the restored health of a fellow human being.

A few topsy-turvy things happen here: the demon-possessed person is restored completely; the townspeople lose their livestock; Jesus is asked to leave the town; and the townspeople who were not afraid of the howling of the demon-possessed person become terrified when they see him sane and serene.

Jesus, through his presence, creates a stirring effect. People are not able to cope with it. They wanted Jesus not to disturb the ‘rhythm’ they were accustomed to.

Let us take the character of the demon-possessed person as a point of reflection.

The description of him not only terrifies us but also evokes compassion in us. The demon-possessed person is unable to sleep and dwells amidst the tombs. He cuts himself with stones.

Bruises in the body, demons in the mind, and distance from his friends and relatives – this is the existential situation of the person. Jesus’ presence transforms his existential condition. He is clothed and in his right mind. Moreover, he wanted to follow Jesus. Maybe he thought no one would welcome him back home: the townspeople may not welcome him because he was healed at the cost of the swineherd, and his own people might not welcome him because they may think that he is of no use.

Jesus discourages him from following him. It is very strange! When someone, on his own, chooses to follow Jesus, he discourages him. Here, Jesus teaches the man a new type of discipleship. One type of discipleship is to follow Jesus; another type is to go home to tell our friends what God has done to us and how he has shown mercy to us.

In the first reading, David faces a stirring effect. Shimei, a kinsman of Saul, abuses David in the presence of his servants. But David is not reactive. Nor does he attempt to take revenge on Shimei. David sees in his faith vision that everything comes from God, and God will repay evil with his good.

David goes home.

The Lord tells us to go home to our friends to proclaim his mercy. Every day of our lives is an act of his mercy. Let us make it a point to announce to others what God has done for us.

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The Jubilee Year is called the year of the Lord’s favour (cf. Isa 61). In the Jubilee Year A. D. 2025, let us resolve to proclaim God’s mercy and steadfastness. (Jubilee A. D. 2025, bite 18)

Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi

Archdiocese of Madurai

Missionary of Mercy