To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Gospel Reflection for Monday, February 3, 2025
Dear brothers and sisters, peace and blessings to you.
Everyone was amazed. And that’s understandable—what Jesus did was truly astonishing. Just like the lives of the people we encounter in today’s first reading—people who, despite being admirable, did not receive what was promised because “God had something better planned for us,” since the hour of Jesus had not yet come.
But with the presence of Jesus, everything changes. The battle between good and evil takes a dramatic turn. What once seemed impossible—overcoming the power of the devil—suddenly becomes a reality. Not even chains could restrain the possessed man, yet with Christ’s mere presence, everything is transformed. The demons tremble, sensing what awaits them, but there is nothing they can do. This time, Good—with a capital G—wins. Evil is cast out, drowned, and defeated.
The locals were afraid, the Gospel tells us. And that’s also understandable—when we don’t understand something, we often react with fear. To truly grasp what Jesus does, one must walk with Him, listen to Him, and be in tune with His message. Without faith, much of what He says and does can seem confusing, even frightening.
The man who was freed from the demons wants to follow Jesus, to join His group, to share his new life with the One who gave it back to him. But Jesus has other plans for him. Not everyone is meant to follow Jesus in the same way, walking alongside Him. That privilege is reserved for a small group. Instead, Jesus sends this man on a mission—to be a witness in his own home.
And it seems he fulfilled his mission well. He made sure that everyone knew what the Lord had done for him, how Jesus had restored his peace and freed him from everything that tormented him. Who knows? Perhaps, thanks to his testimony, many others also found peace.
We may not have been freed from a legion of demons, but we have certainly experienced the liberation that comes from forgiveness. Reconciliation with God, the Church, and our brothers and sisters lifts the heavy chains of guilt and restores our peace.
Your brother in faith,