When we interact with scripture and come across passages that leave us puzzled, it's valuable to take a moment to pause and reflect upon them. Often, immersing ourselves in these passages reveals a rich depth of insight that shapes the way we live.
Just a few days ago, I revisited a familiar passage from scripture that recounts the story of Jesus casting out demons from a man in the Gadarenes region, as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. This individual was evidently tormented by a multitude of demons, and they implored Jesus to permit them to inhabit a significant herd of swine. Jesus granted their request, resulting in the herd charging over a precipice. The swineherds fled, and the men tending the herd spread word of the event among the townspeople, leading the entire community to come out and confront Jesus. Upon seeing him, they beseeched Jesus to depart from their vicinity.
Despite having read this scripture passage multiple times over the years, I had previously overlooked a perplexing aspect of it. Why did the townspeople plead for Jesus to leave? This curious inquiry holds significance and should not be dismissed. It appears to me that the owners of the swine suffered substantial financial losses. I assume that other residents in the town who were engaged in similar businesses might have feared the impact of this healer from Nazareth. Could their swine also be at risk? Jesus certainly brought about a significant disturbance, throwing the entire town into disarray. He disrupted the established business routines, and the sudden changes left the townspeople uneasy.
Jesus liberated a man from bondage and torment. But why was this perceived as negative? Except for the man who was set free, the entire community seemed to urge Jesus to leave.
Here's the lesson to be drawn from this: Jesus doesn't come into our lives to ensure a trouble-free existence or to make everything smooth. His arrival often introduces disorder. Remember that Jesus said, "I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." He wasn't advocating violence, but rather expressing his intention to cut away whatever keeps us from a deep connection with him. Jesus is here to transform you. He engages in a battle against incorrect perceptions, misguided ideas, and wrong notions. In this process, there will be moments of upheaval and chaos, but it's through this upheaval that he reshapes our lives. Our own misguided ideas, too numerous to list, are what keep us enslaved. He seeks to set us free.
Many individuals go through their lives holding onto the belief that they are “good enough” and therefore question the necessity for change. In contrast, some view themselves as highly flawed, leading to doubts about a God who would be interested in helping them. This illustrates the divergent paths of the perpetual optimist and pessimist in their life journeys.
For some, the pain associated with changing one's life and the humility required to relinquish control are scarier than the discomfort of remaining in bondage and maintaining a sense of pride. Hence, instead of celebrating what Jesus accomplished and asking for more, the townspeople begged him to depart. Often the status quo is hard for us to leave.
The misaligned perception that we are better served running our own lives never ends well for us. However, God does not seek our robotic acquiescence to his command. He wants us to participate in the life of the trinity. Think about that…..
In his book The Strangest Way, Bishop Barron talks about the eminent Greek fathers who believed that the ultimate realization of our connection with God and its objective was to guide us to divinity. Does this mean becoming God? Not exactly, but His intention is to immerse us entirely in His existence and partake in it. God does not compete with us. He gives Himself fully to each of us.
Indeed, avoid the tendency of viewing Our Lord solely as a mild and tender shepherd who loves us as we are. Allow me to elucidate. While Jesus does accept you as you are, He will not allow you to remain as you are. Once you embark on a relationship with Him and are serious, the transformative journey begins. God initiates the process of remaking you. God, by nature, is many things, yet above all, He stands as a creator who delights in transforming chaos into order, turning the unlovely into a thing of beauty. What’s not to love about that!
Hence, if you find yourself in disarray, surrounded by a whirlwind, take a moment to pause and engage in a conversation with God about it. Rather than inquiring why this is happening, ask Him instead what lesson or revelation He intends to impart through this experience. Be still and pray, then ponder and He will reveal it to you.