Reflections of Scripture | Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

Choose either the video or audio below.

Gospel
Matthew 8:28-34

When Jesus came to the territory of the Gadarenes,
two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him.
They were so savage that no one could travel by that road.
They cried out, "What have you to do with us, Son of God?
Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?"
Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding.
The demons pleaded with him,
"If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine."
And he said to them, "Go then!"
They came out and entered the swine,
and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea
where they drowned.
The swineherds ran away,
and when they came to the town they reported everything,
including what had happened to the demoniacs.
Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus,
and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district.

Reflection

The miracles that Jesus performed that were therapeutic are remembered and treasured, but often people don't remember another way that he showed his power and that was the power he had over evil, and we'd rather not think about evil as a power,

but when you think about the things that we see humans do that seem to be almost animalistic, so below what we should be in terms of our consciousness, you're usually looking at something that is like evil, it has gotten into them and robbed them of their true nature. We need to be sure that we know the one thing that Jesus taught about this power of evil: His power is stronger.

Closing Prayer

Father, whenever we feel discouragement, we look at the human race, we think what's happening to us, we're all seemingly not what we should be, and just remember that so often the evil that we see is not coming from our human nature, but from some force that overrides our human nature, our instinct for goodness. Trust in that power that God has that can conquer that. That's our hope. That's our future. God's power in you and me to help us deal with those things that distort our way of seeing. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Kyle Cross