Categories: orthodox-life, bible
Date: 11 December 2004 05:03:14
Just under a month ago, Erica wrote a blog on Christians and Demons, and asked how vulnerable we Christians might be to them. I found it a very interesting post, and the wise comments added by people were very instructive also.
I was caused to remember that post while reading one of the books that I bought on the retreat, The Miracles of Christ by Archbishop Dmitri (I am a sucker for buying books at all times and places...I also bought On the Soul and the Resurrection by St Gregory of Nyssa; Hymns on Paradise by St Ephrem the Syrian; and Great Lent by Fr Alexander Schmemann.)
Archbishop Dmitiri made these comments, which brought a tear to my eye describing the dehumanisation of the possessed:
The picture of the possessed drawn by the three Evangelists deserves careful attention, for it is symptomatic of all cases in any period in history: the possessed in dehumanized.A sad and terrible image indeed: a man, created in the image of God, reduced to this. As I said it brought a tear to my eye.
....
St Mark (5:1-5) records other details. The possessed had "his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains." The latter condition is further explained: "Because he had often been bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him." His less-than-human condition is described thus: "And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, cryng and cutting himself with stones."
But the tears flowed more as I meditated on the love of Christ towards the possessed (and then all the sick He healed; and then all people...even me...); Archbishop Dmitri again:
Regarding the specific Gospel lesson being considered (Matthew 8:28-34), it is interesting to note that no one brought the two possessed men to the Lord. Indeed, no one dared go near them. It seems that Jesus went out to meet them Himself, and when they saw Him they came.The ineffable and inexhaustible love of God. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ!