| “I beg you, do not….” “They begged him not….” “…the demons begged Jesus to….” “The man… begged that he might be with….” (excerpts from Luke 8:26-39).” |
| Dear Friends, The Gospel reading from Luke just a few days ago is deeply layered. It is a healing story that is in each of the Synoptic Gospels (Mark, Matthew, and Luke). Each Gospel tells the story a bit differently. But Luke’s version is the one most closely patterned after Mark’s version, the Gospel believed to be the earliest one written. In Luke’s telling, two patterns are set with the word “beg,” at least in the NRSV translation. The first is who is begging. The pattern is man-demons-demons-man. The second is how the begging is oriented. It begins in the negative and ends in the positive. The man suffering demons, “begs Jesus not….” The demons “beg Jesus not….” Then, the demons beg Jesus to….” Finally, the man begs Jesus that….” I do not know what to make of these patterns. I do not know what conclusion to draw about how these patterns inform a path to healing. But, what is clear is that the only time Jesus denies the begged request is at the last one. It is at the end when safety is assured, and healing is complete for the one. In the end, the circumstances for the man have changed because of the intersection between him and his demons and Jesus. He is now safe from being shackled and is no longer possessed by demons. He last “beg” is to go with Jesus. And Jesus says, “no.” This man no longer needs to beg. He is safe. He is healed. So, he is empowered to bring that healing to others. Jesus, after all has been asked to leave. But God’s healing grace will not be taken away just because Jesus leaves. The intersection this man has had with Jesus is to become an intersection for others, to those he will from now on encounter differently. Whatever healing we experience, may we trust it. May we share it and through it, extend healing to others. In Peace, Rev. Dina |