Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost. Octoechos Tone 6; The Holy Martyrs Galaction and Epistemis.
Ephesians 2:4-10; Luke 8:26-39.
Read Luke 8:26-39
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
We all have a story – a backstory – the narrative of relationships and events that were instrumental in our formation. When we meet someone, we are interested in learning that about them. The reasons for our interest can vary, depending on our own experience. We may have developed a fascination with the variety of human experience and a love for people. We may have developed a suspicion of difference and a distrust of people. Or some combination of both, healthy or otherwise.
Backstory looms large in today’s gospel reading. Notice the temporal references regarding “the man” – “for a long time he had worn no clothes, and he lived not in a house but among the tombs…for many a time (the unclean spirit) had seized him.”
“The people” had a history with “the man”. That is part of their backstory. Someone had to bind “the man”. Someone had to keep him “under guard”. There must have been serious reasons involving some of “the people” to warrant this.
What about Jesus’s backstory? He has one from all eternity. “The man”, who had direct transformative experience of “Jesus, Son of the Most High God” begged to remain in his company. “The people” reacted very differently. “They were afraid…seized with great fear.” What must they have thought Jesus’s backstory is? Clearly, they did not associate Jesus’s power over evil spirits with anything good.
“The man” now had a new story to tell. “The people” could also have had a new story but they stuck with their old one, basing their assumptions about Jesus on previous fearful experience. May we not miss the work of Jesus coming to us through others because our backstory may need healing and divine editing.We all have a story – a backstory – the narrative of relationships and events that were instrumental in our formation. When we meet someone, we are interested in learning that about them. The reasons for our interest can vary, depending on our own experience. We may have developed a fascination with the variety of human experience and a love for people. We may have developed a suspicion of difference and a distrust of people. Or some combination of both, healthy or otherwise.
Backstory looms large in today’s gospel reading. Notice the temporal references regarding “the man” – “for a long time he had worn no clothes, and he lived not in a house but among the tombs…for many a time (the unclean spirit) had seized him.”
“The people” had a history with “the man”. That is part of their backstory. Someone had to bind “the man”. Someone had to keep him “under guard”. There must have been serious reasons involving some of “the people” to warrant this.
What about Jesus’s backstory? He has one from all eternity. “The man”, who had direct transformative experience of “Jesus, Son of the Most High God” begged to remain in his company. “The people” reacted very differently. “They were afraid…seized with great fear.” What must they have thought Jesus’s backstory is? Clearly, they did not associate Jesus’s power over evil spirits with anything good.
“The man” now had a new story to tell. “The people” could also have had a new story but they stuck with their old one, basing their assumptions about Jesus on previous fearful experience. May we not miss the work of Jesus coming to us through others because our backstory may need healing and divine editing.
Bible References