First Reading (2 Samuel 15:13-14.30; 16:5-13a)
Reading from the Second Book of Samuel.
In those days, a messenger came to inform David, “The sympathies of all Israel are with Absalom.” David said to the servants who were with him in Jerusalem, “Hurry, let us flee, or else we will not escape from Absalom! Hurry to depart, lest he overtake us quickly, bring disaster upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.” David walked up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered, and he walked barefoot. All the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went.
When the king came to Bahurim, a man of the family of the house of Saul came out, whose name was Shimei, son of Gera; he came out cursing as he came. He threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David; now all the people and all the warriors were on his right and on his left. Shimei shouted while he cursed, “Out! Out! Murderer, scoundrel! The Lord has avenged on all of you the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, disaster has overtaken you; for you are a man of blood.”
Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.” But the king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’ ” David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “My own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord has bidden him. It may be that the Lord will look on my distress, and the Lord will repay me with good for this cursing today.” So David and his men went on the road, while Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went.
– The word of the Lord.
– Thanks be to God.
Gospel (Mk 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 came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gerasenes. As soon as he got out of the boat, a man possessed by an unclean spirit came out of a cemetery to meet him.
This man lived among the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with chains. For he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him.
Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains, he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, the possessed man ran and fell on his knees before him and shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!” Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The impure spirits begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and were drowned. Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.
Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.
— The Gospel of the Lord.
— Praise to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Peace and grace to all of you! It is a joy to be here today, gathered as a community of faith, to reflect together on the biblical passages we have just heard: the First Reading from the Book of Samuel (2Sm 15,13-14.30;16,5-13a) and the Gospel according to Mark (Mk 5,1-20). In these Scriptures, we find treasures of wisdom that can illuminate our everyday lives, offering guidance and hope.
Who among us has not, at some point, felt like King David, whose heart was filled with anguish in the face of Absalom’s betrayal and conspiracy? We live in a world where relationships are often challenging, and disappointments can haunt us. As the psalmist reminds us, “O Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me!” (Psalm 3:2). However, David’s story does not end in betrayal but shows us the beauty of divine reconciliation and forgiveness.
David’s life invites us to reflect on how we face adversities, betrayals, and difficulties in our own lives. Can we, like David, seek God’s face in the midst of storms? When Absalom rose against David, the king departed, and on the way, he encountered Shimei, who cursed him by throwing stones. David’s general, Abishai, offered to strike Shimei with his spear, but David responded in a surprising way: “Let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. It may be that the Lord will look on the wrong done to me and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing today” (2Sm 16:10).
David understood that even in the midst of adversity, God could be acting in mysterious and redeeming ways. We can learn from this, beloved brothers and sisters, to seek divine wisdom in our difficulties, trusting that God can transform curses into blessings if we allow Him to work in our hearts.
Similarly, in the Gospel according to Mark, we find an extraordinary narrative that takes us to the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus, upon disembarking, is approached by a man possessed by unclean spirits, a man who lived among the tombs, screaming and injuring himself with stones. This man, living on the fringes of society, away from human interaction, is a vivid portrayal of the internal struggles many of us face.
The scene is striking: Jesus, with divine authority, commands the unclean spirits to leave the man, sending them into a herd of pigs. And, as we know, the pigs rush into the sea and drown. This image reminds us that often we need to confront our inner demons, allowing the light of Christ to dispel the darkness that haunts us.
However, the story does not end with the man’s liberation. On the contrary, we see the Lord sending him back to his community to testify to what God has done for him. “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you” (Mk 5:19). Just like the liberated man, we are called to bear witness to God’s transformative grace in our own lives.
In the face of these biblical passages, we are challenged to reflect on how we handle adversities and how we allow Christ into our lives to set us free. What are the “herds of pigs” we need to leave behind? What challenges and betrayals do we face, and how can we seek God’s face in these situations?
I want to encourage each of you to see difficulties not as insurmountable obstacles but as opportunities to experience divine redemption. Be like David, who, even in the face of betrayal, sought God’s face, or like the possessed man, who experienced liberation and was sent as a witness to Christ’s compassion.
Today, as a community of faith, we are invited to set aside the stones of bitterness, resentment, and distrust. We must allow Christ to cast out the unclean spirits that imprison us so that we can experience true freedom in His grace.
It is important to note that David did not act alone, and the possessed man was not left to his own devices. Both sought divine intervention, recognizing their dependence on God. Likewise, we, as a community, are called to support each other, pray for one another, and seek God’s face together. As it is written in Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, “Two are better than one… If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!”
The liturgical tradition offers us precious resources for this journey of seeking and reconciliation. The sacramental confession reminds us that, like David, we can turn to God with a contrite heart, trusting in His mercy. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is not just a ritual act but a real opportunity to experience the liberation and healing that Christ offers.
Furthermore, the Eucharist, the pinnacle of our life of faith, is where we find strength and communion to face the challenges of daily life. Just as Jesus sent the liberated man back to his community, we are sent after Mass to be witnesses of grace in our homes, workplaces, and communities.
Dear brothers and sisters, the message of these Scriptures is clear: God is present in our lives, even in the most challenging situations. He can transform betrayals into reconciliation, darkness into light, and captives into the liberated. We need to trust in His providence and seek His face in all circumstances.
Before concluding, I challenge you to reflect on a practical action you can take this week, inspired by the lessons from these biblical passages. It could be an act of forgiveness, a deed of love for others, or a decision to seek help in facing inner demons. May this reflection not be mere words but the seed of a real transformation in your lives.
As we bid farewell, let us remember the words of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” May the peace of God be with us, guiding us on our individual and collective journeys.
May the Lord bless each of you, strengthening you in His grace and leading you on the path of true freedom in Christ. Amen.
Let us pray: Lord God, source of all love and mercy, we thank you for gathering us as a community of faith. Illuminate us with your Word and grant us the grace to live according to the teachings of the Scriptures. May your peace reign in our hearts, and may we be living witnesses of your transformative grace. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
