The Price of Freedom

Gospel: Matthew 8: 28-34

Consider today's Gospel portion: two men have the opportunity to be freed from the demons that oppress them, the opportunity for freedom and a new life.  In order to do so, a herd of swine must be sacrificed so that these men might be free.  Considering that swine are unclean animals in Jewish law, we might find this bargain a good one.  Yet, the townspeople do not think so, and they beg Jesus to leave.   We might find that response shocking until we realize we make the same reply everyday.  

Each and everyday we have the opportunity to help feed someone who is hungry, or clothe someone in need of apparel.  Instead, we hoard our possessions in our suburban homes, and when full in our storage facilities.  We have the opportunity societally to feed people adequately, provide health care for all, and educate everyone effectively.  Instead, we choose to build arenas for our gladiators, luxury hotels and condos for our rich, and wage endless wars across the globe.  

We can choose otherwise.  Rather than continually choosing the swine over the care of others, we can and must choose the healing and liberation of others.  In many different ways both individually and collectively - as civic and religious communities - we must choose to live differently than we do now.  For our present path is one of destruction and ruin for so many.  The path of Jesus is the way of solidarity, of care for others, of care for all.