A reading taken from the gospel of Matthew 8:28-34
28 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.
29 They cried out, “What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?”
30 Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding.
31 The demons pleaded with him, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine.”
32 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.
33 The swineherds ran away, and when they came to the town they reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs.
34 Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district.
Reflection: The Demons in Us
It is a fact that the demons inside us and among us are at work to confuse and torment us. These demons, whether we look at them as strong negative emotions such as guilt and fear or as real works of satan, are powerful forces. If our faith is not strong, these forces would destroy our sense of well-being.
Our gospel tells about the encounter of Jesus with two demoniacs. The latter recognized the divinity of Jesus and pleaded not to destroy them. Eventually, the demons were banished to the sea where they were drowned.
The swineherds saw what happened and ran away. The people who heard their story became so afraid of the divine power in Jesus that they begged Him to leave.
This is what happens when we lack knowledge and faith. Sometimes, when we don’t like the message, we become hateful of the messenger. Jesus comes with the message of hope and deliverance but instead of welcoming and appreciating the good news, many people cover their ears and let their fear and guilt take over. Worst, these present day demoniacs drive away or even persecute the heralds of the good news.
Our reading shows us that the power of the Divine is in control and at the end of the day, the good wins over evil. This is our source of hope.
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Jesus steps into a place marked by fear, darkness, and spiritual oppression and brings undeniable transformation. Two demon-possessed men, living among the tombs, isolated and terrifying to others, are confronted not with judgment but with the authority and mercy of the Son of God.
The scene is shocking. These men are described as “so violent that no one could pass that way.” Their lives had been overtaken by evil; they were cast out from society, feared and forgotten. Yet Jesus, fresh from calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee, steps onto this shore not by accident but with divine purpose. He enters into their chaotic situation deliberately, unafraid and unshaken.
This Gospel passage reveals a profound truth: there is no place too dark, no soul too lost, and no situation too broken for Jesus to enter in and redeem.
The demons, recognizing Christ immediately, cry out in fear, “What do you want with us, Son of God?” They know His power. They know their time of terrorizing these men is up. With a single command, Jesus sets the captives free. The evil spirits flee into a herd of pigs, which rush down a steep bank and drown in the waters.
This is not just a dramatic story. It is a living picture of what Jesus still does today. He comes to confront and cast out the things that bind us: fear, addiction, shame, bitterness, and despair. He doesn’t avoid the mess. He walks directly into it with authority and love.
Yet, perhaps the most surprising part of the story is the townspeople’s reaction. Instead of rejoicing over the deliverance of these two men, they beg Jesus to leave their region. The cost, the loss of the pigs, was too much for them. They feared the change Jesus brought more than they feared the evil that had plagued their land.
Here we see another powerful truth: when Jesus brings transformation, it often disrupts what is comfortable even if what is comfortable is broken. Sometimes, people choose familiar suffering over the unfamiliarity of freedom.
This raises a question for each of us: Are we more like the townspeople or the delivered men? Do we invite Jesus to stay and do more, even when His work in our lives demands change? Or do we ask Him to leave when His presence begins to challenge our comfort zones?
The Gospel doesn’t shy away from this tension but it assures us that the freedom Jesus offers is worth everything. So take heart. If you are in a place that feels like a tomb, isolated, tormented, forgotten, know this: Jesus comes for you. He crosses seas for you. He stands against darkness for you and when He speaks, every chain must break.
For those watching from a distance, let this story be a reminder: don’t fear the transformation that Jesus brings. Celebrate the restoration. Rejoice in the lives that are made whole. Sometimes, the greatest miracles happen just outside our comfort zones.
Let us not send Jesus away when He begins to stir things up. Let us welcome His presence, His authority, and His love, even when it comes with a cost. Because in His presence, what is lost can be restored, what is broken can be mended, and what is bound can be set free.
Today, may we make room for Jesus, not just in the peaceful places, but especially in the places of pain and chaos. Like the men once bound, may we walk forward in freedom, bearing witness to the One who came, who saw, and who conquered.
