Hebrews 11:32-40; Psalm 31; Mark 5:1-20
In our first reading from the letter to the Hebrews, the author speaks of some of the greatest heroes of the Jewish people – men who fought battles and conquered their enemies. He also speaks of the prophets who stood for the truth and did not flinch in the face of torture. Some were great warriors while others were weak but they all lived by faith, and because they had faith they achieved great things. In the Gospel, Jesus cures a demoniac by casting out the evil spirits that had possessed him. The spirits instead entered a herd of pigs and were killed. The people were amazed when they saw this but were also terrified and asked Jesus to leave their area. Both of our readings speak to us about faith. The first reading speaks of those who had faith and lived by it while the Gospel speaks of those who had little faith and did not want what faith they had to grow. Perhaps it was because they realised the conversion they would have to undergo if they were to become people of faith. We know what faith can do and what reward lies in store for us. We are given a choice – to be people of faith and enter heaven, or to be people who turn their backs on God, refusing to grow.
In our first reading from the letter to the Hebrews, the author speaks of some of the greatest heroes of the Jewish people – men who fought battles and conquered their enemies. He also speaks of the prophets who stood for the truth and did not flinch in the face of torture. Some were great warriors while others were weak but they all lived by faith, and because they had faith they achieved great things. In the Gospel, Jesus cures a demoniac by casting out the evil spirits that had possessed him. The spirits instead entered a herd of pigs and were killed. The people were amazed when they saw this but were also terrified and asked Jesus to leave their area. Both of our readings speak to us about faith. The first reading speaks of those who had faith and lived by it while the Gospel speaks of those who had little faith and did not want what faith they had to grow. Perhaps it was because they realised the conversion they would have to undergo if they were to become people of faith. We know what faith can do and what reward lies in store for us. We are given a choice – to be people of faith and enter heaven, or to be people who turn their backs on God, refusing to grow.