Mark 5: 15-20 (NRSV)
"They came to Jesus and saw the demoniac
sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the
legion; and they were afraid. Those who had seen what had happened to the
demoniac and to the swine reported it. Then they began to beg Jesus to leave
their neighborhood. As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been
possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him. But Jesus refused,
and said to him, 'Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has
done for you, and what mercy he has shown you.' And he went away and began to
proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him; and everyone was
amazed."
It is a great relief to finally come to the end of a time of
illness or disease or other struggle. Sometimes we wait for years for that day,
like the man who called himself 'Legion' because he was bound by a legion of
demons. No longer suffering and alone, it's understandable that he wanted to go
with Jesus who had set him free and gave him a new life! We read, however, in
this account, that his healing was not for the purpose of taking him out of his
everyday life, family or community – but it was a demonstration of God's
presence and power that he was to share.
The healed become the transformers
It can be a challenge to go back into a community that has only known you as sick, disabled, drunk, crazy, different, or otherwise having something “wrong with you.” When we experience a miraculous change, some will celebrate with us, but surprisingly, others will either deny our new reality or be angry about it. To go back into the same unhealed setting requires that the healed one become a teacher who assists the community to understand and embrace the awesome movement of God.
It can be a challenge to go back into a community that has only known you as sick, disabled, drunk, crazy, different, or otherwise having something “wrong with you.” When we experience a miraculous change, some will celebrate with us, but surprisingly, others will either deny our new reality or be angry about it. To go back into the same unhealed setting requires that the healed one become a teacher who assists the community to understand and embrace the awesome movement of God.
God’s kingdom is built one helping hand at a
time
As in an alcoholic or other addictive family, one person’s recovery can begin the healing process for the whole family. The same can be true in the work and ministry of the Church. All it takes is one person with a vision for mission, for ministry, for reconciliation or transformation. The love, diligence, enthusiasm of one can transform the whole body. Sometimes like the man who used to be bound by a legion of demons, our task is to be present, tell our story, share our faith and healing. The beloved kingdom of God is built one person, one conversation, one prayer, one helping hand at a time.
As in an alcoholic or other addictive family, one person’s recovery can begin the healing process for the whole family. The same can be true in the work and ministry of the Church. All it takes is one person with a vision for mission, for ministry, for reconciliation or transformation. The love, diligence, enthusiasm of one can transform the whole body. Sometimes like the man who used to be bound by a legion of demons, our task is to be present, tell our story, share our faith and healing. The beloved kingdom of God is built one person, one conversation, one prayer, one helping hand at a time.
---Bishop Linda Lee
God Is Still Control!
Miss Lladale Carey
Web Content Producer
www.umcgiving.org
lcarey@umcom.org
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