Reading

Mark 5.5-8

Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always howling and bruising himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him; and he shouted at the top of his voice, ‘What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.’ For he had said to him, ‘Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!’

Reflection

Bodies are important in this story. The description of the man among the tombs is graphic. He acts like an animal. He bruises himself. He has to be chained with iron. When he is finally delivered, the demons are sent into pigs – another “unclean” and despised animal. Clearly, this man is in need of healing in body, mind and spirit.

But the allusion to bodies being restrained, chained and abused carries deeper significance. Scapegoated people throughout history – those seen as “other” by the majority – become the target of dehumanising violence. For centuries, systems of control and abuse “demonised,” vilified, enslaved and brutalised Black bodies.

Again, this story prompts the question: who is really in need of healing? This man is a victim of a system that is violent and determined not to see his humanity, his value – certainly not as Jesus does.

Watch

Take note of the ways broken bodies often point to violent systems.

…and pray

for systems of justice that seek to heal all aspects of people’s lives.

Copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2024.