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Uncle Ted Among The Gergesenes

Do you want to be liberated -- or do you prefer the status quo?

This passage (Matthew 8:28-9:1) was the Gospel reading in the Orthodox Church today:

When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way.

And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”

Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding.

So the demons begged Him, saying, “If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine.”

And He said to them, “Go.” So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine. And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water.

Then those who kept them fled; and they went away into the city and told everything, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men.

And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to depart from their region.

So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city.

This is one of the most truthful (to human nature) passages in Scripture. Notice that the people of the town received the good news that men who had been bound and tormented by demons had been set free by the power of Jesus. Did they want to know what good things He might do for them? No, they begged him to go away, because he upset their routine. They would rather have lived with the pain they knew than risk being healed and liberated.

Isn’t that just like us?

I was contacted the other day by a reporter for a mainstream, highly reputable news organization. The reporter is working on the Cardinal McCarrick #MeToo story. “Everybody knew” that McCarrick sexually exploited seminarians and others, but even today, very few people are willing to say exactly what he did. Even 16 years after Boston, there are still many people who loathe what McCarrick did, and the networks that allowed him to get away with it, but who are still willing to keep his secrets.

If you are such a person — cleric or layman — now is the time to step up. Now is the time to refuse the false peace of bondage. Now is the time to tell what you saw. If you are willing to speak to this journalist about it, email me at rod (at) amconmag (dot) com, and I will put you in touch.

 

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