Our paragraph topic is: (Expulsion of the devils in Gerasa) Part 1.
St Matthew takes a turn in his story of Christ and tells us about the possessed men. The sea has calmed and the wind has ceased to blow and they finally arrive to the other side of the sea in the land of Gerasene. Upon their arrival they are immediately approached by two men who are possessed of devils. The men are so fierce that no one travels that way. People travel around that area for fear of being attacked by the men who were possessed.
Matthew tells us this story exposing us to the fear that they faced from these possessed men. We face a similar fear today also. Often times it seems that the more you avoid someone that you fear the more you seem to run into them. Even when we were little, playing in our own area, the bullies seem to find us so that they may torment and torture us. We bothered no one. We were of no threat to anyone. We were happy in our area, in our world. And all of a sudden the world stops, the bully comes, and we are terrified.
Even today we find similar situations at work. There is someone at work that we do not like. Someone at work that seems to rub us the wrong way. There is someone at work that seems to be the bully that you avoid. In every situation in life we can find these situations to avoid. We avoid certain parts of town. We avoid certain people. We avoid certain situations because we fear the stigma attached or we are afraid.
Christ has just chastised the disciples because of their lack of faith in the boat. He now brings them face to face with evil. He now brings them face to face with evil that can do bodily harm to them. He now brings them face to face with evil that can destroy them. He now brings them face to face with evil that bestows fear just at the thought of it. And the evil approaches Christ and cries out: "What have we to do with thee, Son of God?" The evil in the possessed men faced the wrath of God. They faced the the light of the world and bowed to his glory. They submitted.
Christ now demonstrates the power of faith to his disciples. He gives them another example of the things that they will do with him and through him. He teaches them. He demonstrates to them how they will work. He shows them the proof of what their faith will do. Is this an example for us today? Can our faith work the same way? Do we have the power to stop demons in their tracks? This is our example.
St Matthew takes a turn in his story of Christ and tells us about the possessed men. The sea has calmed and the wind has ceased to blow and they finally arrive to the other side of the sea in the land of Gerasene. Upon their arrival they are immediately approached by two men who are possessed of devils. The men are so fierce that no one travels that way. People travel around that area for fear of being attacked by the men who were possessed.
Matthew tells us this story exposing us to the fear that they faced from these possessed men. We face a similar fear today also. Often times it seems that the more you avoid someone that you fear the more you seem to run into them. Even when we were little, playing in our own area, the bullies seem to find us so that they may torment and torture us. We bothered no one. We were of no threat to anyone. We were happy in our area, in our world. And all of a sudden the world stops, the bully comes, and we are terrified.
Even today we find similar situations at work. There is someone at work that we do not like. Someone at work that seems to rub us the wrong way. There is someone at work that seems to be the bully that you avoid. In every situation in life we can find these situations to avoid. We avoid certain parts of town. We avoid certain people. We avoid certain situations because we fear the stigma attached or we are afraid.
Christ has just chastised the disciples because of their lack of faith in the boat. He now brings them face to face with evil. He now brings them face to face with evil that can do bodily harm to them. He now brings them face to face with evil that can destroy them. He now brings them face to face with evil that bestows fear just at the thought of it. And the evil approaches Christ and cries out: "What have we to do with thee, Son of God?" The evil in the possessed men faced the wrath of God. They faced the the light of the world and bowed to his glory. They submitted.
Christ now demonstrates the power of faith to his disciples. He gives them another example of the things that they will do with him and through him. He teaches them. He demonstrates to them how they will work. He shows them the proof of what their faith will do. Is this an example for us today? Can our faith work the same way? Do we have the power to stop demons in their tracks? This is our example.
