Transformation
Tony E Hansen
Reflection based upon Luke 8: 26-39, Psalm 22, Galatians 3:23-29
Opening prayer
Transformation happens in our lesson from Luke. Something happens to this person; going from naked to clothes, living in the cemetery with the dead and perhaps treated like such.
Jesus comes along and heals this person who being possessed refers to themselves as “Legion” by sending those many demons unto the swine herd.
As an Iowan with many family who are hog farmers, does anyone wonder why the pigs? For I know my uncles would be asking for an invoice for this “medicine” to cure and transform Legions.
It wasn’t the pigs that concerned these people, but what happened to the man, who is now “sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in right mind.”
Something happened to this person, and now, the villagers, who were probably accustomed to how they dealt with him, they are frightened.
They were used to his antics, what he did and didn’t do. They were used to his isolation in the cemetery, and now they are compelled to see him and perhaps be with him.
So this is not just a transformation story about one person, but also whoever lost their pig herd, and the whole town has to learn how to live with the change. That change was so upsetting, they ask Jesus to leave.
Imagine that, being so fearful and upset that we tell Jesus to leave.
Change is the only constant in the universe. Yet we treat change as something perverse, feared and even torturing.
I know that at any moment my whole life could change because of decisions that will impact me, my livelihood, and my health.
I am content with what I have and where I am, but all of that can change tomorrow or even an accident while riding my bicycle.
That notion itself, prompts me to do things or avoid other things.
It prompts me to engage with groups that help the unfortunate because all too easily I could become one of them. As Jesus tells us, I commit to helping the unfortunate with what some may call my current fortunes.
It prompts me to avoid those that might threaten those current fortunes. Thus, I do limit who I interact but at what cost.
What or rather whom do I miss out from learning? What judgement have I set forth upon people that I don’t even know. What have I cast upon people that I know very little but fear them lurking in the shadows?
Again, some of this is preservation of personal contentment, but also a fear of the potential change because change, while constant, brings with it anxiety.
Why? We don’t know what we look like on the other side of said change. Even though, at that point we will still be changing. We are still getting older, perhaps wiser; we are still living (hopefully); and we are in a world that is also changing with us.
When you think about it, we fear that which is happening now.
Why fear for something that is so fundamental and basic?
Why commit so much energy to something that we cannot change?
Perhaps that is what is causing people to panic about some of the change that is happening to our politics. Even though people voted in this change, the realization has brought plenty of anxiety because it is upending so much that we have grown familiar and learned to know “as the way things are.”
Yet, even in that change, even in our anxiety, we cannot let go of the lessons we have learned, we cannot let go of our faith in the one that heals and quiets those desperations - in ways that no politician can.
In our fears, we can find even more reason to fear, but if we look into our faith, we can find someone who calms; they who help us look up and out to the world.
Yes, we could cower into our shells of ignorance. We can cast doubt upon knowledge and science, but truth is truth and change happens.
Remember, science is a gift of God and helps us understand change and the truth. There is grace in learning what divine mysteries are hidden and waiting for us in that change. The question remains what we do with it and how do we respond to that which God gives us.
For change that hurts people, we must be willing to stand up and speak out against injustice.
For change that demeans and humiliates, we must the source of light and the Word that people need. Because we know too well how easily all of what is fortunate for us can change in a moment and because God commands us to love and care for each other.
For ourselves, we must be willing to find strength in what we know. We were given strength in our baptism to find Jesus wrapped all around us. That change gives us strength today. That strength can be found in our faith. For God is there and will be there for us through the change.
Jesus was there for the naked man with many demons, and he was there for the community.
Yet they allowed fear to rule them asking Jesus to leave instead of stay and understand.
They witnessed and could have learned about themselves and their faith, but instead they cowered in fear - away from truth and God.
Too easily, that is what people do - live in ignorance of change happening - God working.
The leaf floats in the wind, falls into a river and will flow with it. Beautiful image.
Change can be good, change is God working, teaching. It offers ways to learn more about ourselves and our roles.
Let change be a gift from God not something to fear and to ignore. You were clothed with Christ in baptism. You were transformed to help you through change.
Thanks be to God
