The Healing of the Demoniac of Gadarenes and Advice for the “Last Days”

St Luke’s Gospel tells of the casting out of demons (“Jesus then asked him, ‘What is your name?’  And he said, ‘Legion’; for many demons had entered him”, St Luke 8: 30) from a possessed man who lived in a predominantly Gentile region called the Gadarenes.  We read about his condition:

Then they arrived at the region of the Gadarenes which is opposite of Galilee.  And as he stepped out onto the land, there met him a man from the city who had demons; for a long time he had worn no clothes, and he lived not in a house but among the tombs…For many a time it had seized him; he was kept under guard, and bound with chains and shackles, but he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the desert (St Luke 8: 26, 27, 29).

Even in this hideous condition he bore the image of God.  The demons hated him.  They humiliated him, physically harmed him, and gave him an unnatural, terrible strength.  He was tormented by these evil beings who desired to destroy him.

This can be seen as a spiritual parallel for our days.  If not outright possession of some, there is a horrific demonic influence taking place in much of popular culture and secular society.  In these days, and those days that may be coming for us, just as Christ came to set the possessed man free, so we must ask Christ to more completely free us from the corruption and darkness of sin that remains in us.  We must shun every form of evil (“Perverseness of heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil” (Psalm 101/100: 4).  And, as the liberated man was clothed and in his right mind, let us more completely be clothed in Christ and have his mindset.  As the Prayer of the Hours asks of God, so let us ask, “…Sanctify our souls, purify our bodies, set aright our minds, and cleanse our thoughts.”

In these days, these challenging and troubling days I turn to the words of St Hilary of Poitiers’ commentary on St Matthew’s account of Jesus walking on the waters of the Sea of Galilee (St Matthew 14: 22 – 33).  This miracle occurs immediately after the Feeding of the Five Thousand.  Jesus tells his disciples to cross to the other side while he spends time alone in prayer.  But the disciples struggle greatly in the crossing being buffeted by wind and waves.  At the fourth watch of the night, Jesus comes to them on the water.  He calms the wind and waves.  The disciples are delivered from  potential shipwreck and death.

St Hilary takes the focus of this miracle to Last Days.  (However, the Incarnation ushered in the Last Days.)  He sees the disciples’ struggles paralleling the struggles of the Church.  He writes,

In the fourth watch of the night, the Lord came, for it was at that point be returned to an errant and foundering Church.  In fact, in the fourth watch of the night is an appropriate number that represents his concern.  The first watch is that of the Law, the second of the prophets, the third of his bodily advent, so the fourth is in his glorious return.  But will he find the Church exhausted and buffeted about by the spirit of Antichrist and by all the world’s troubles?  For he will come especially to these who are anxious and in anguish.  Because it is typical of the Antichrist to harass by using every new kind of temptation, they will panic at the Lord’s coming, fearful of the false and insidious images of things which deceive the eyes.  But the good Lord will immediately speak to them, drive away their fear, and say, “It is I,” banishing their fear of a certain shipwreck with faith at his coming.

Once the Lord boarded the boat, the wind and sea became calm, which indicates the peace and tranquility of the Church eternal after his return in glory.  And because he will come manifested to all, the entire world will rightly be amazed and declare:  “Truly he is the Son of God.”  For then the confession of all humanity will be both unqualified and public.  Now the Son of God will appear no longer in the humility of the body but in his heavenly glory, having restored peace to the Church.

Again, the Church has been in the “Last Days” since the Incarnation.  Where are we today?  Are we approaching or in the final chapter, or perhaps a trial run?  I do not know.  I do know that we find ourselves buffeted by the raging of the world system and its powerful — both seen and unseen.  I do know that at all times we are to hold firm to Christ as the Church and as individual Christians.  I do know that as we reach out to Christ he comes to us.  I do know that we must be in preparation at all times to be in the presence of our Lord.  We are to live a life of faith.

In these times I offer terse advice:

Be aware.  Be in prayer.  Prepare.  Do not despair.

Offered, too, are these words of St Paul:

Do not repay evil for evil, but always pursue the good both for one another and for all.  Rejoice always.  Pray constantly.  Give thanks in with and for all things, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.  Do not restrain the Spirit.  Do not despise prophecy.  Test all things, and hold fast what is good.  Avoid every appearance of evil.  Now, may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely; and your spirit, soul, and body be kept sound and blameless in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this (1 Thessalonians 5: 15 – 24).

Finally, consider the Eucharist — for which we must prepare, and in which Christ himself is present.  Christ again gives himself to us in and by his Body and Blood.  He calls us to himself to receive him in and by his Body and Blood of Holy Communion.  Having prepared ourselves we come to receive our Lord.  We are not to come mindlessly to the Chalice, but with faithful intent to receive his cleansing and forgiveness, his Light and Life, and the calming of any storm we may be experiencing.  By the Eucharist we receive into ourselves — into every part of our being — the Existing One who conquers for us.  Glory to Christ our Lord!

Here is the link to the corresponding sermon:  

In Christ,

Fr Irenaeus