A few years ago, a friend told me a hilarious yet profound story. He was on a road trip when his GPS suddenly rerouted him through a creepy, deserted road. His phone signal dropped, the gas light flickered on, and to make matters worse, he saw an abandoned house straight out of a horror movie. “This,” he thought, “it is how I die.” Just as panic set in, he spotted a small gas station, barely lit but open. Relieved, he pulled in, refueled, and got directions back to safety.
Unfamiliar Places
Funny how lost we can feel in unfamiliar places, right? But let’s be real—it’s not just road trips. Life often feels like that too. We lose control, end up in dark places, and sometimes, we get stuck there. Yes, enter today’s Gospel: Jesus meets a man trapped in one of the darkest places imaginable.
Sound familiar? We all have our “chains,” don’t we? Maybe it’s our phones, our insecurities, our past mistakes, maybe it’s fear, anger, addiction, guilt, or comparison. Maybe it’s the voice in our head that says, “You’re not enough” or “You’ll never change.” That’s where today’s Gospel comes in.
Jesus Isn't Afraid of Our Mess
The gospel today tells the bizarre, yet powerful story of a man possessed by a legion of demons. He’s living in a graveyard, breaking chains, howling at night—essentially the town’s horror story. The townspeople have tried to chain him up, but he keeps breaking free. He’s a walking symbol of brokenness, isolation, and despair. And yet, when Jesus shows up, everything changes.
Here’s the first thing I love about this story: Jesus doesn’t avoid the guy. He doesn’t cross to the other side of the road like some of us might. He goes straight to him. Why? Because Jesus isn’t afraid of our mess. He’s not intimidated by our chains. In fact, He’s drawn to them. He sees the person behind the pain, the child of God behind the chaos.
Jesus Transforms
Now, let’s talk about the demons. They’re terrified of Jesus. They beg Him not to destroy them but to send them into a herd of pigs instead. And what happens? The pigs rush into the sea and drown. (I’ve always wondered what the pig farmers thought about this. Imagine explaining that to your boss: “yeah, Jesus showed up, and now our entire investment is at the bottom of the lake.” (RIP all that good bacon). But here’s the point: Jesus doesn’t just manage the demons; He destroys them. He doesn’t just tidy up our lives; He transforms them.
When the townspeople come running, they find the man sitting there, clothed and in his right mind. The same guy who was once a danger to himself and others is now calm, restored, and whole. But here’s the kicker: they’re not thrilled. In fact, they’re afraid. They ask Jesus to leave. Why? Because change is scary. It’s easier to live with the familiar brokenness than to embrace the unfamiliar freedom Jesus offers.
Never Too Far Gone
And that’s where we come in. What are the chains in your life? Maybe it’s an addiction, a toxic relationship, or a voice in your head that tells you you’re not enough. Whatever it is, Jesus is standing in front of you today, saying, “Let me break those chains. Let me set you free.”
Remember, no chain is too strong, no mess too big, and no person too far gone for Jesus. He’s in the business of setting people free—and that includes you and me.
- Father Boby's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. You can view the Mass (and the Rosary at the 30-minute mark) on the Family Rosary YouTube page.
- To join the Rosary and Mass Livestream, visit the Family Rosary YouTube or Facebook page at 11:30 a.m. Eastern, Monday – Friday. Consider inviting others to join too! (*If you are not a member of Facebook and a signup window appears, simply select the X at the top of the pop-up message and continue to the livestream.)
