Healing needs suffering

 Mk 5:1-20

For, honestly, no discussion of human life would be complete without addressing suffering. Suffering within our souls, but also suffering in our bodies and within the natural world. David in the first reading, the man who had evil spirits suffered in fullness. 

There are three types of suffering; physical, mental and social suffering. The man in today's gospel experienced all of them. Jesus heals a demon(s)-possessed – about 6000 spirits, 1 Legion. He had bruises in his body, He spent sleepless nights stress, depression, and distance from his friends and relatives. When he was healed, they worried for the 2 thousand pigs rather than his healing (because Gerasenes is the gentile nation). David went up the Mount of Olives, he wept without ceasing. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. He also experienced this humiliation as Shimei, a kinsman of Saul, abuses David in the presence of his servants. he received the cursings, and the experience of suffering in fullness will give wisdom to them. 

with what attitude do you undergo suffering? Some people want others to see how they suffer. But David is not reactive. Nor does he attempt to take revenge on Shimei. David sees in his faith vision that everything comes from God, and God will repay evil with his good.

For me, the most beautiful thing in the gospel, the man who was healed wants to stay with Jesus as Jesus discourages him from following him. It is very strange! When someone, on his own, chooses to follow Jesus, he discourages him. Here, Jesus teaches the man a new type of discipleship. One type of discipleship is to follow Jesus; another type is to go home to tell our friends what God has done to us and how he has shown mercy to us. 

David is going home, not as the same person he was at the last time. go home, Italian proverb goes like this; L’unica regola del viaggio è: non tornare come sei partito. Torna diverso. the only rule of travel is do not return home the same, return differently. David returns home differently, you will see a new king.