Wednesday of
the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Genesis 21:5.8-20a;
Matthew 8:28-34)
Even Pope Francis cites
the Protestant theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s book The Cost of
Discipleship. It treats of the difficulties Christians are called to
bear. Of course, the benefits of discipleship
more than outweigh its burdens.
Nevertheless, Christians must be ready pay a price when they commit
themselves to Christ. Today’s gospel tells of people unwilling to do that.
Jesus has just cleared
the area of the Gadarenes of a threat.
He cast out the demons moving two men to menace the populace. Jesus allowed the demons to enter a herd of
swine that went berserk and plunged into the sea. The swine were lost, and the town that much
impoverished. The townspeople react to
the feat by asking Jesus to leave their territory. Instead of following such a powerful man as
Jesus, they want to rid themselves of him.
They are not willing even to consider the “cost of discipleship.”
We all have to bear
suffering, but no one has to do it alone.
We can turn to Jesus for help. He
will make some demands on us which are included in the “cost of discipleship.” But we should not doubt that we will accrue
more happiness with his support.
