The Fate of the person who had an unclean Spirit

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : 4th Week - Monday*

*Gospel : Mk 5:1-20*

*First Reading : Heb 11:32-40*

*The Fate of the person who had an unclean Spirit*

*1) He was living in the Tombs*

The man with an unclean spirit was living in a tomb

Tomb is a place for the dead and not for the living. So it is very clear that the man with an unclean spirit had dead to many of the things in his life 

He was dead to the human nature, human relationships and to all human qualities

He was also dead to all the spiritual qualities, in his life

So he was living in a Tomb

*2) He was bound in shackles and chains*

The very fact that he was bound in shackles and chains, he was not a free person. He was a slave

Only animals are bound in chains. Since the man with an unclean spirit, was bound in chains he had become the animal

So unclean spirit makes a person to live in the state of animality and not as a human person 

*3) He was powerful*

The attitude of the person shows that devil or unclean spirit has tremendous power to destroy  a person 

#No one could restrain him any longer, even with a chain.

#In fact, he had frequently been bound with shackles and chains, but the chains had been pulled apart by him and the shackles smashed

#No one was strong enough to subdue him.

This information from the Gospel shows the power of the unclean spirit 

*4) He was bruising himself with stones*

This shows the attitude of hurting oneself. 

Hurting oneself and damaging the self is the primary function of the unclean spirit. 

By hurting the self, ultimately  to destroy is the intention of the unclean Spirit

*5) He was possessed with Legion*

Legion means a vast number of people or things, or a group of people 

When the unclean spirit says, that its name as *Legion* there is a group of evil spirit or group of evil things are involved 

There are 7 deadly things which form the concept of Seven deadly sins list & meanings

#Lust

#Gluttony

#Greed

#Sloth

#Wrath

#Envy

#Pride

The legion consisting of these above deadly sins are more dangerous than any other evil spirits 

*6) Am I under the influence of the unclean Spirit?*

All of us are affected with some or the other influences of evil things 

Only the gaze of Jesus will help us to overcome from such influence. 

Will I allow myself to be caught by the sight of Jesus? 

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*