How can I remain open to a deeper understanding of what it means to be human, embracing both the beauty of creation and the call for justice, as CAPN: “The WTC: The Podcast”, Episode 003 – Notre Dame Lost, Catholic Charities for the Win! is #into; or rather will I be like the “Legion” in power who dismiss the truth as mere darkness-working myself into such a frenzy looking for “scapegoats” that in my desperation I lose all sense of direction and end up saying—”Send us into the swine“❓
Gospel
Jesus and his disciples came to the other side of the sea,
to the territory of the Gerasenes.
When he got out of the boat,
at once a man from the tombs who had an unclean spirit met him.
The man had been dwelling among the tombs,
and no one could restrain him any longer, even with a chain.
In fact, he had frequently been bound with shackles and chains,
but the chains had been pulled apart by him and the shackles smashed,
and no one was strong enough to subdue him.
Night and day among the tombs and on the hillsides
he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones.
Catching sight of Jesus from a distance,
he ran up and prostrated himself before him,
crying out in a loud voice,
“What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God❓
I adjure you by God, do not torment me!”
(He had been saying to him, “Unclean spirit, come out of the man!”)
He asked him, “What is your name❓”
He replied, “Legion is my name. There are many of us.”
And he pleaded earnestly with him
not to drive them away from that territory.Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside.
And they pleaded with him,
“Send us into the swine. Let us enter them.”
And he let them, and the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine.
The herd of about two thousand rushed down a steep bank into the sea,
where they were drowned.
The swineherds ran away and reported the incident in the town
and throughout the countryside.
And people came out to see what had happened.
As they approached Jesus,
they caught sight of the man who had been possessed by Legion,
sitting there clothed and in his right mind.
And they were seized with fear.
Those who witnessed the incident explained to them what had happened
to the possessed man and to the swine.
Then they began to beg him to leave their district.
As he was getting into the boat,
the man who had been possessed pleaded to remain with him.
But Jesus would not permit him but told him instead,
“Go home to your family and announce to them
all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.”
Then the man went off and began to proclaim in the Decapolis
what Jesus had done for him; and all were amazed.
Lectio Divina Reflection on “into“
I have often found myself drawn into the beauty of creation, just as Saint Francis was, captivated by the wonders of the sun, the moon, and even the smallest of creatures. Yet, as I gaze into the natural world, I also recognize how easily humanity falls into patterns of destruction and indifference. But who will remind us that creation is not just a resource to be consumed, but a gift to be cherished❓
When I stepped into the painful reality of clergy abuse and spoke the truth, I was cast into a different kind of darkness—one not of my own making, but imposed by those who would rather silence than confront. Bishop Zurek’s words painted my accusations as a symptom of cultural decay rather than an attempt to bring hidden suffering into the light. How often does the fear of scandal drive me into denial instead of into justice❓
into a new, damaging darkness.
At “The Glenn,” I watch as the Kunekune swine work themselves into a frenzy at feeding time, overcome by their instincts, oblivious to anything beyond their immediate desires. It makes me wonder how often I, too, allow myself to be swept into a frenzied mob mentality, trading reason and conscience for the safety of the herd. Am I truly free, or am I, like them, driven into whatever impulse or fear takes hold of the moment❓
“to help uh moms who are pregnant we want to help them get into prenatal care we want to help them get those prenatal…”
The call to justice, to truth, and to authentic love demands that I step into courage, not retreat into silence. But what happens when even that courage is met with rejection, when the truth I speak is twisted into something monstrous❓ Do I stand firm, or do I allow myself to be cast into despair, into resignation, into believing that speaking out is futile❓
If even demons beg to be sent into the swine, what does it say about a world where truth is cast aside in favor of convenience❓ Must I, too, be driven out for daring to speak❓ How do I hold on to the belief that justice is worth the cost, when the cost feels unbearably high and I want to cry out,…
Francis helps us to see that an integral ecology calls for openness to categories which transcend the language of mathematics and biology, and take us to the heart of what it is to be human. Just as happens when we fall in love with someone, whenever he would gaze at the sun, the moon or the smallest of animals, he burst into song, drawing all other creatures into his praise.
FROM PARAGRAPH 11 of ENCYCLICAL LETTER LAUDATO SI’ OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS ON CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME