First Reading (Hebrews 11,32-40).
Reading of the Letter to the Hebrews.
Brothers, what more should I say? I wouldn’t have time to talk more about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets. These, by faith, conquered kingdoms, practiced justice, received promises, gagged the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, recovered health in sickness, proved themselves valiant in war, repelled armies foreigners. Women found their dead through resurrection. Others were dismembered, or refused ransom, to reach a better resurrection. Still others suffered the ordeal of mockery, they experienced the whip, the chains, the prisons. They were stoned, sawed, or killed by swords. They led a wandering life, dressed in sheepskins or goats’ hair; oppressed and troubled, they suffered deprivation. They, of whom the world was not worthy, wandered in the deserts and mountains, in the caves and caves of the earth. And yet all of them, although by faith they received a good testimony, nevertheless they did not obtain the fulfillment of the promise. Because God was predicting something better for us. That’s why it wasn’t convenient for them to reach full realization without us.
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Gospel (Mark 5,1-20).
Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, Jesus and his disciples arrived on the other side of the sea, in the region of the Gerasenes. As soon as he got off the boat, a man possessed by an unclean spirit, coming out of a cemetery, met him. This man lived in the middle of the tombs and no one could tie him up, not even with chains. He had often been tied up with handcuffs and chains, but he would break the chains and break the handcuffs. And no one was able to dominate him. Day and night he wandered among the tombs and on the mountains, screaming and hurting himself with stones. Seeing Jesus from afar, the demoniac ran, fell on his knees before him and shouted loudly: “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me!” In effect, Jesus said to him: “Unclean spirit, come out of this man!” Then Jesus asked, “What is your name?” The man replied, “My name is ‘Legion,’ because there are many of us.” And he insistently asked Jesus not to expel him from the region. There was a large herd of pigs nearby, grazing on the mountain. The unclean spirit then begged: “Send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them.” Jesus allowed it. The unclean spirits came out of the man and entered the pigs. And the whole herd – about two thousand pigs – threw themselves down the hill into the sea, where they drowned. The men guarding the pigs ran out and spread the news throughout the city and fields. And people went to see what had happened. They went to Jesus and saw the demoniac sitting, dressed and in his right mind, the same one who had previously been possessed by the Legion. And they were scared. Those who had witnessed the event explained to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and the pigs. Then they began to ask Jesus to leave their area. As Jesus reentered the boat, the man who had been demonized asked him to let him stay with him. Jesus, however, did not allow it. However, he said to him: “Go home to your people and tell them everything that the Lord, in his mercy, has done for you”. Then the man went away and began to preach in the Decapolis everything that Jesus had done for him. And everyone was amazed.
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Imagine a portrait gallery, where each painting tells a story of extraordinary courage, unwavering faith and superhuman perseverance. This is exactly what we find in today’s first reading, where the author of Hebrews presents us with an impressive “hall of faith”.
“What else should I say?” asks the author. “There would be no time to talk about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets.” Each of these names carries epic stories of faith in action. Ordinary people who, through faith, accomplished the extraordinary: “they conquered kingdoms, exercised justice, achieved the promises.”
But note that the author does not romanticize faith. He shows us two sides of the coin. Yes, some “shut the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword.” But others “were tortured…endured taunts and floggings, chains and prisons.” Some triumphed gloriously, others suffered terribly – but all remained faithful.
This reading reminds us that faith is not a guarantee of an easy life, but rather of a meaningful life. Those whom the world was “not worthy” wandered through deserts and mountains, living in caves, but kept their spiritual integrity intact.
And it is in this context that our Gospel today gains even greater depth. The story of the demoniac of Gerasa is one of the most dramatic narratives in the gospels. We found a man living among the tombs, tormented by demons, so strong that no chain could contain him, screaming and hurting himself with stones.
What a powerful image of spiritual slavery! This man represents all those who are chained – not by physical chains, but by addictions, fears, traumas, toxic relationships, or any other force that prevents us from living the abundant life God intended for us.
But then Jesus arrives. Note that the man, or rather the demons in him, immediately recognize who Jesus is: “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” Even the dark forces know who is in charge.
The release that follows is dramatic. The demons are expelled, they enter a herd of pigs that rush into the sea. And the man? He is found “sitting, dressed and in his right mind.” What an extraordinary transformation!
Here is the deep connection between our two readings: both the heroes of faith mentioned in Hebrews and the demoniac of Gerasa show us the transformative power of an encounter with God. Some demonstrate this power through their perseverance in faith, others through their dramatic deliverance.
But the story does not end with liberation. Jesus gives man a mission: “Go home to your people, and tell them all that the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” The liberated man becomes an evangelizer, a living testimony to the transforming power of Christ.
It reminds us that our own stories of faith and liberation are not just for us. Like the heroes mentioned in Hebrews, we are called to be witnesses to others, inspiring them with our faith and perseverance.
My brothers and sisters, perhaps some of you identify with the demoniac—struggling with personal demons that seem impossible to overcome. Others may see themselves more in the heroes of Hebrews – persevering in faith in the midst of challenges. In both cases, the message is clear: God’s power is greater than any force that oppresses us, and our faith, even in the midst of suffering, is not in vain.
May we, like the man from Gerasa, experience the liberating power of Christ. And may we, like the heroes of faith, persevere to the end, knowing that we are part of a great cloud of witnesses who proclaim the power and faithfulness of God.
May the Lord bless us and keep us, today and always. Amen.
