In today’s Mass, we will be reflecting on the great gift of faith, which is a steadfast anchor for our souls amidst the trials of life. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews presents us with a roll call of faith — figures from the Old Testament who exemplified an uncompromising commitment to God. On the other hand, the Gospel of Mark brings us the poignant story of a man tormented by demons, and his transformative encounter with Jesus. Together, these readings challenge us to not only recognize the power of faith in our lives but to also understand how it shapes our identity in Christ.
First, let’s consider the powerful passage in the first reading. The author recounts how the faithful — Gideon, Barak, Samson, David, and countless others — through faith, accomplished remarkable feats, subdued kingdoms, and faced persecution and suffering with courage. They did not merely believe; they acted upon their belief. This biblical hall of fame teaches us that authentic faith is not passive but is instead a driving force behind our actions. It emboldens us to confront our fears and face our trials, knowing that our strength comes from God.
The world these men inhabited was fraught with danger, yet it was their faith that equipped them to endure hardships. It is our faith that must carry us through our worst trials. In today’s culture, where materialism, cynicism, and despair seem to dominate, we are called to be like these figures of faith — unyielding, courageous, and unwavering in our trust in God.
Now, turning to the Gospel, we encounter a profound demonstration of faith through the man possessed by Legion. This man represents all who are tormented and chained by their struggles. His encounter with Jesus epitomizes what it means to have faith — the ability to recognize that help comes from above. It is no secret that in an authentic possession, although the demon rages on the inside, the person it is inhabiting simultaneously desires to be set free. In this case, despite his utter despair, he runs to Jesus and prostrates himself before him — an iconic gesture of submission. Through faith, we submit our ways of thinking, our limitations, our darknesses, before the illumined will of God. Here, this man, with a demon inside, falls prostrate before the Light of the World. Jesus drives out the powerful demon and the man rests free.
What is striking in this narrative is how the people of the Gerasenes reacted to this miracle. Rather than rejoice at the restoration of the man, they are seized with fear and beg Jesus to leave their territory. The man who snapped chains and shackles as if they were weak and brittle twigs was himself impotent before the God of the Universe. Of course the people would be terrified. This begs the question though: Why do we resist the very thing that can redeem us? Why do we resist sitting at the feet of our Lord in submission as he resides there in the tabernacle waiting for a visit from us? Sometimes, we grow comfortable in our chains, preferring the familiarity of our suffering over the radical change faith may require of us.
Each of us, my brothers and sisters, are being summoned to freedom. The God who loves us infinitely, eternally, and unconditionally, wants to set us free, but we must embrace his truth. So what Jesus said to the Jews, he says to us, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31,32. We all need to be exorcised of anything that runs contrary to Jesus’ words and commands. Of course, this man had not just one demon inside, but many. Jesus had power over all of them, and he has the power to free us as well from anything that holds us back from following him.
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