Homily for Monday of the 4th Week in Ordinary Time

Our Gospel reading today tells us an unsettling story about a man who was possessed by demons. He was very much out of control, completely separate from himself and from others. He was more dead than alive, as is indicated by his living among the tombs. He was the absolute outsider. Yet, Jesus engaged with him, and, as a result of his encounter, the man was healed and his relationship with his community was restored. Having just calmed a storm at sea, Jesus calmed the storm in this man’s mind and spirit and sent him out as a messenger of good news to his community.

Hopefully, we may never be as troubled as this man was, but we can all find ourselves out of sorts from time to time; out of sorts with ourselves and with others, feeling only half alive within ourselves, tossed and thrown about. It is then that we need to come before the LORD as the man in the gospel did. His initial approach to the LORD was quite aggressive; it was full of anger, “What have you to do with me, Jesus of Nazareth?” Perhaps, when we are distressed, that can also be our starting point when we come before the LORD in prayer. Yet, He is never put off by our disturbance within. If we let Him, He will pour His peace into our hearts; He will calm us as He calmed the storm, and having done so, He will send us out to share His peace and mercy with others, just as He sent out the man in the Gospel.+