YOU’RE NOT A PIG!

Monday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary time Year C Mark 5:1-20 The Gospel of today is the story of the man who had an unclean spirit. This man had been dwelling in the tombs. His disorder was so severe that no one was able to restrain him, not even with a chain. But when he met Jesus, this man tremble in fear. “Catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran up and prostrated himself before him, crying out in a loud voice, What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me!” The gospel of teaches us the following lessons. First, Jesus is here to cast out the works of darkness. He is here to destroy the projects of the devil. Jesus is here to break the chain that enslave us. Friends, you know what, when we met Jesus He will break our chains. He will give us liberty and freedom. What are the chain that enslaves you? Get out from your tomb. Move away from a stinky sorrounding. Perfume yourself with the odor of Christ. You deserve to stay in the throne not in the tomb. Tomb is a place for the dead. Friends, we don’t belong in the tomb. Second, when Jesus asked his name, the spirit told Him: “Legion is my name. There are many spirits.” Legion means they are countless. Friends, no matter how myriads the devil are; when they are face to face with Jesus they temble in fear. Brothers and sisters dont be afraid of the evil spirit. They will only frightened us but can’t prevail over us. William Shakespeare once said: “Hell is empty and all the devils are here.” Friends, be not afraid for God is here. The devil will disappear if Jesus is with you. Finally, the spirit then begged Jesus not to drive the spirits out of the territory but into a herd of swine that was nearby. Friends, the swine reminds us not to behave like pigs. Pigs love to dig dirt using their snout. They use to fight each for food. They are domineering and noisy in nature. What can we learn here? Friends, we are not a pigs. We are not called to dig the dirt from each other. We are not asked to fight and to dominate. And most importantly we are not encourage to make noise like pigs. Today, choose Jesus over your livelihood and bussiness. Never follow the example of the swineherds who force Jesus to leave. “Then they began to beg him to leave their district.” The townspeople want Jesus to leave but the man who has just been healed and saved wants to be with Jesus. Friends, Jesus is more important than whatever you have combined together. Friends, stay with Jesus. Blessings Fr. Jhack