I don’t like horror films, so I won’t be going to see “Us” or “Child’s Play” or “Pet Sematary” this summer. I’ve never seen the classic from when I was young, “The Exorcist.” I’m pretty clear in my own mind that certain of my fears don’t need any extra stimulation and that I am perfectly content to let them rest quiet.
Yet our Gospel lesson for this Sunday raises some of those fears and speaks about others. In 34 years of preaching, I’ve yet to tackle Luke 8:26-39 or either of its parallels in Matthew and Mark. I doubt its fear that caused that, but more the place this lectionary reading typically falls on the calendar, times when I’m often away on vacation or at the Covenant annual meeting (not attending this year).
So here I am thinking about the gripping story of Jesus’ exorcism of, not one, but a “legion” of demons from a man in Gentile territory. As I read it, I noted that alongside my own fear of the evil supernatural, the text brought to light a few other fears driving the characters in the story.
First, if it’s the man himself (rather than a demon) speaking in verse 28, he appears to fear being tormented by Jesus whom he recognizes for who He is, “Son of the Most High God.” Second, it is clearly the demons who are afraid in verse 31, as they beg not to be ordered out of the man “into the abyss,” a place of judgment for evil spirits. Then the townspeople are said to be afraid in verse 35 when they see the saved man. Finally, people from the whole region are said to be “seized with great fear” as they learn of what happened and ask Jesus to leave them.
Ironically, the fears identified in the text are for the most part of that which is good, especially of Jesus Himself. Yet relieved of his demons the man’s fear of Jesus is gone with them and he then wishes in verse 38 to stay close to Him, perhaps now fearing being separated from the Man who saved him.
Jesus’ response in verse 39 to the man freed from demons is perhaps His response to at least some of our fears, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” How many of our demons might disappear and foolish fears might evaporate if we focused on telling ourselves and others “how much God has done” for us?