http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2010/06/27/the-gergesene-demoniacs-we-all-must-answer-the-question-%e2%80%9cwhat-have-we-to-do-with-thee-jesus-thou-son-of-god%e2%80%9d/ McKinney TX Homilies, scripture commentary, spiritual reflections Wed, 05 Jun 2013 12:35:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2010/06/27/the-gergesene-demoniacs-we-all-must-answer-the-question-%e2%80%9cwhat-have-we-to-do-with-thee-jesus-thou-son-of-god%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-3822 Deborah Sun, 27 Jun 2010 20:45:47 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=2321#comment-3822 Father, Bless,   Been there, done that.  I can recall being terrified in the presence of the Lord and begging Him to go away---<em>not realizing that it was the Lord that I was sending away.</em> I was frightened and overburdened by my life's circumstances and, in my mind, I was just doing what I had to do to try to stay 'sane' (whatever that was).  I was not yet able to face Reality,<em> the Truth</em>.  In other words, <em>I wasn't yet ready to face the Lord</em>.    I'm not making any excuses for this deadly error, but I do understand these pig farmers a bit.  Sometimes we are just not ready to face the Truth about ourselves. It is so terrible that only a divinely orchestrated set of circumstances (usually involves lots of suffering) can prepare us to acknowledge and accept the Reality of our helplessness and sinfulness.  The demoniacs had reached bottom--they had no place else to look but up-- into the face of the Lord.  The townspeople on the other hand, frightened as they were, had yet to reach bottom, the day of reckoning when all other options are gone and there is no longer any place to run and hide from Reality, the Truth, <em>the Lord</em>.  For some that day may not come in this life, but, inevitably,<em> that day will come</em>.    Thankfully, we know that the Lord is patient, <em>"not willing that any should perish"</em>. He continues to reach out even to those who continue to reject Him. And, by the grace of God, many who were formerly enemies of God have repented.  With prayer and the witness of those delivered from demons (literal or figurative), even pig farmers ('of whom I am chief') can get another chance.... Father, Bless,
 
Been there, done that.  I can recall being terrified in the presence of the Lord and begging Him to go away—not realizing that it was the Lord that I was sending away. I was frightened and overburdened by my life's circumstances and, in my mind, I was just doing what I had to do to try to stay 'sane' (whatever that was).  I was not yet able to face Reality, the Truth.  In other words, I wasn't yet ready to face the Lord. 
 
I'm not making any excuses for this deadly error, but I do understand these pig farmers a bit.  Sometimes we are just not ready to face the Truth about ourselves. It is so terrible that only a divinely orchestrated set of circumstances (usually involves lots of suffering) can prepare us to acknowledge and accept the Reality of our helplessness and sinfulness.  The demoniacs had reached bottom–they had no place else to look but up– into the face of the Lord.  The townspeople on the other hand, frightened as they were, had yet to reach bottom, the day of reckoning when all other options are gone and there is no longer any place to run and hide from Reality, the Truth, the Lord.  For some that day may not come in this life, but, inevitably, that day will come. 
 
Thankfully, we know that the Lord is patient, "not willing that any should perish". He continues to reach out even to those who continue to reject Him. And, by the grace of God, many who were formerly enemies of God have repented.  With prayer and the witness of those delivered from demons (literal or figurative), even pig farmers ('of whom I am chief') can get another chance….

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