Daily Catholic Lectio. Wed, 2 July ‘25. The Demons That Possess People

Daily Catholic Lectio

Wed, 2 July ‘25

Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time – Wednesday

Genesis 21:5, 8–20. Matthew 8:28–34

The Demons That Possess People

“Son of God, what have You to do with us here?”

In today’s Gospel, two men possessed by demons confront Jesus. They recognize Him and call Him “Son of God.” Jesus casts the demons into a herd of pigs, and the entire herd rushes down into the sea and drowns. The townspeople, having witnessed this, plead with Jesus to leave their region.

They are not moved by the healing of the possessed, nor do they rejoice in Jesus’ divine presence. Instead, they are disturbed by the loss of their property. They are, quite simply, practical people—more concerned about material loss than spiritual gain.

In the first reading, Sarah laughs at the Lord’s message that she will have a son. That son is named Isaac, meaning “he laughed.” But before Isaac, Abraham had a son, Ishmael, through Hagar. When Sarah sees Ishmael also laughing, she becomes angry. She fears the bond between the son of a slave woman and her own child. In a cruel twist of domestic politics, she demands their expulsion.

Though Abraham is troubled, he sends them away. In the wilderness, both Hagar and Ishmael cry in despair. God hears their tears and reveals a well of water. Mourning turns into joy. The God who sees our tears always leads us to the waters of life.

Hagar, once a wandering maid, and Ishmael, her son, become dwellers and owners of the wilderness. Such is the work of God: those who are rejected by people are remembered by Heaven.

Sarah says, “Cast her out.”

The villagers say to Jesus, “Leave our town.”

Both Hagar and Jesus are rejected.

But the eyes of faith make all the difference.

Hagar sees a well in the wilderness.

The villagers see only dead pigs in the sea.

One’s eyes are opened in trust; the others are shut in fear.

Jesus often crosses “to the other side.” Here too, He travels to the region of the Gadarenes. For Jesus, the “other side” is a sacred place of encounter and transformation. It is a place of the unknown, the feared, the rejected—and yet, it is the very place where grace breaks in.

In the Bible, many who crossed to the “other side” returned transformed—like Joseph, sold into slavery, who rose to power in Egypt; or the prodigal son, who took his inheritance and journeyed far, only to return with a changed heart.

Here too, Jesus crosses over. From the shore of possession by demons, He brings two men to the shore of freedom and healing.

The healed men rejoice, but the people ask Jesus to leave. Ironically, the demons didn’t destroy the town—the people’s fear and closed hearts did. The demons didn’t remain in the pigs; their influence seemed to settle in the village instead.

Why did the people ask Jesus to leave?

Was it because they feared the power of the other side entering their own shore?

Did they anticipate more losses like the pigs and fear the cost of transformation?

Or did they prefer that the possessed remain possessed, undisturbed?

The possessed men asked, “Why are You here?”

The villagers asked, “When will You leave?”

Both feared what Jesus could change.

Jesus returns again to His side. But from the other side, even His own shore can appear as the “far side.” It’s all about perspective.

In the first reading, Hagar and her beloved child are cast out from the household of Abraham and Sarah. Even if God chose Isaac, we cannot help but feel the pain of sending away a mother and child. Abraham gives them only some bread and water. When they run out, Hagar breaks down in tears. God hears. His angel says, “Do not fear,” and reveals a hidden well.

Not all who are sent away from homes and cities are met by angels. Many must console themselves and struggle forward. Yet, even there, God watches.

Today, may we open our eyes of faith.

To see the well in the desert.

To welcome the Son of God when He comes to our shore.

To let Him cast out what binds us, even if it costs us something.

And to recognize—the other side is not far away. It is where God walks.

Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi

Archdiocese of Madurai

Missionary of Mercy