Tuesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Anyone who has experienced a fall knows that its effects can last seconds, days, weeks, or even years—fragile creatures that we are. Today the man possessed by an unclean spirit doesn’t fall, but is thrown down by the demon before being completely freed. The gospel tells us he was not harmed.
Though the gospel doesn’t mention it, it’s easy to imagine Jesus stretching out his hand and raising the man back up to the dignity and freedom that the Lord came to give to every person.
We may find ourselves struggling to find a sense of dignity and freedom, suffering the effects of yesterday’s falls, whether chosen or provoked. What might it mean to renew our efforts of lifting up our hearts to the One we know will raise us up to a new life?