THE MARVELS OF OUR REDEMPTION
The marvel of
our redemption is that Jesus, though sinless, freely takes upon Himself the
burden of sin. The burden of sin He accepts is not only during the hours of His
passion but all throughout His life.
As we continue reading from the Book of
Samuel we see David in every possible situation and with every possible emotional
reaction. Today, as his son Absalom tries to take over the throne, David and
his men flee. As an old enemy gloats over David's lot, the king takes it as
only appropriate. "Perhaps the Lord will look upon my affliction and make
it up to me with benefits for the curses He is uttering this day" (2 Sm
16:12).
David and Jesus are similar in that they
both suffer from the hands of their own people. But they are completely
opposite in that David is sinful and Jesus is sinless; David is guilty and
Jesus is innocent. It was out of a sense of justice that David is willing to
accept his affliction, but it is out of pure love that Jesus endures His
Passion.
The marvel of our redemption is that
Jesus, though sinless, freely takes upon Himself the burden of sin. The burden
of sin He accepts is not only during the hours of His passion but all
throughout His life. This is why, in today's Gospel, we witness His expelling
of the demons that are so heinous that not even the swine can tolerate their
presence. After Jesus expels the demons, He says to the man, "Go home to
your family and announce to them how much the Lord in His pity has done for
you" (Mk 5:19).
In the Responsorial Psalm, we ask the
Lord to "rise up and save me" (Ps 3:8a). As we praise God daily in
our lives as a Faith community in our churches and individually in our homes,
it should lead us forth to proclaim the Good News of salvation to all we
meet. Jesus is willing to free us from
anything that binds us and that keeps us from the love of our heavenly Father.
All we need to do is part with anything that might keep us from His love and
saving grace.
God has visited His people!