God’s Providence Permeates All Our Actions

2 Samuel 15:13-14,30,16:5-13
Mark 5:1-20

In today’s first reading, King David, whose family history is complicated, pathetic, sordid, brilliant, and successful, is burdened with blotches of adultery and homicide in the case of Bathsheba and Uriah. The house is confronted with a son in revolt and seeking his life, David advises restraint (to kill Absalom or that the clansman related to Saul should not be executed for cursing David) and he attributes the situation to God’s Providence. He declares, “Let him alone and let him curse for the Lord has told me to. Perhaps the Lord will look upon my affliction and make it up to me with benefits for the curse he is uttering this day.” (2 Sam. 16:12)        

In today’s gospel also God’s Providence shows itself in this “bizarre” and startling incident whereby Jesus encounters a demoniac, “man out of the tombs,” a “legion” of evil spirits inside of him. “No one could restrain him anymore, even with a chain; for he had often been restrained with shackles and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the shackles he broke in pieces, and no one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountain he was always howling and bruising himself with stones.” (Mk. 5:5)

Jesus meets this chaotic reality with patience and compassion, and the man ends up sitting calmly, fully clothed, and in his right mind. But, evil looks for evil. Among the native Jewish Gerasene people, the Gentile influence had them earn a living in a manner that was against Jewish law, herding swine. “Legion” begs Jesus “not to send them out of the country.”

So Jesus permitted them, and the “unclean spirit came out and entered some 2000 sounder that rushed into the sea and drowned. The intensity at which the drift enters the lake shows the intensity at which the man is being possessed by the demons.

-Take a moment to ponder this whole scene, including Jesus sending the restored man back to his home territory and to the Decapolis to publicly announce what Jesus had done for him, and, Jesus being asked to leave the region, which he did.

-Ponder upon those moments that God has rescued you from calamities and sin. It is God who has brought you to where you are today. Remember how Divine Providence led the Holy Family to Egypt and back. Thank the Lord. Thank Him for your family and friends and Count your blessings. Then place your trust in the Lord; to do His will and be guided by His providence. Let his love take control of you.

Fr Joseph Osho