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ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE
ARCHDIOCESE OF
THYATEIRA & GREAT BRITAIN

BULLETIN OF SPIRITUAL EDIFICATION
6TH SUNDAY OF LUKE

20th October 2013

Plagal of the 4th Mode. No. 1306

20 2013
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The perfect person does not only try to avoid evil, nor does he do good for fear of punishment, still less in
order to qualify for the hope of a promised reward. The perfect person does good through love. His actions
are not motivated by desire for personal benefit he is not interested in fame, or a good reputation, or a
human or divine reward. (St. Clement of Alexandria)

RESURRECTION APOLYTIKION

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ou the Compassionate came down

from above, you accepted burial
for three days, that you might
free us from the passions. Our life and
resurrection, Lord, glory to you!

KONTAKION

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Plagal of the 4th Mode

2nd Mode

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rotection of Christians that cannot

be put to shame, unfailing
mediation with the Maker, do not
despise the voices of us sinners as we
pray; but, in your love, be quick to help
us who cry to you with faith: Hasten to
intercede, make speed to entreat, O
Mother of God, for you ever protect
those who honour you.

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EPISTLE READING

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rethren, you are the temple of

the living God; as God said, I will
live in them and move among them,
and I will be their God, and they shall
be my people. Therefore come out from
them, and be separate from them, says
the Lord, and touch nothing unclean;
then I will welcome you, and I will be a
father to you, and you shall be my sons
and daughters, says the Lord
Almighty. Since we have these
promises, beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves from every defilement of
body and spirit, and make holiness
perfect in the fear of God.

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2 Cor. 6:16-18, 7:1

GOSPEL READING

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t that time, as Jesus came into the

country of the Gadarenes, a man
from the city met him who for many years
had been possessed by demons, had worn
no clothes and did not live in a house but in
the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he fell down
before him and cried out, What have you
to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High
God? I beg you, do not torment me for
Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to
come out of the man. For many times it had
seized him; and kept under guard he was
bound with chains and shackles, but he
would break the bonds and be driven by
the demon into the wilderness. Jesus then
asked him, What is your name? He said,
Legion; for many demons had entered
him. They begged him not to order them to
go back into the abyss. Now a large herd of
swine was feeding there on the mountain;
and they begged Jesus to let them enter
these. So he gave them permission. Then
the demons came out of the man and
entered the swine, and the herd rushed
down the steep bank into the lake and was
drowned. When the swineherds saw what
had happened, they ran off and told it in
the city and in the countryside. Then
people came out to see what had happened,
and when they came to Jesus, they found
the man from whom the demons had gone
sitting at Jesus feet, clothed and in his right
mind. And they were afraid. Those who had
seen it told them how the one who had
been possessed by demons had been saved.
Then all the people of the surrounding
country of the Gadarenes asked Jesus to
leave them; for they were seized with great
fear. So he got into the boat and returned.
The man from whom the demons had gone
begged that he might be with him; but
Jesus sent him away, saying, Return to
your house, and declare how much God has
done for you. So he went away,
proclaiming throughout the city how much
Jesus had done for him.

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Luke 8:26-39


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SERMON ON THE GOSPEL READING

odays story of the Gadarene swine is recorded in all three of the Synoptic Gospels
and when this occurs it is often illuminating, having heard or read one version, to
turn to the parallels in the other Gospels. This may often seem to give rise to
contradictions, but this should not be a cause for concern for us. Apparent
contradictions, when they occur, do not affect the spiritual message which the
Evangelists wish to convey. Indeed, they should be expected. When eye-witnesses give
an account of an accident which they have seen, there are always differences in detail.
If they all said exactly the same, they would be suspected of collusion with the result
that doubt rather than confirmation would be accorded to their evidence. In this
instance we might ask if the event described took place in the country of the Gadarenes
or that of the Gergesenes, but it simply does not matter as it has no bearing on the
principal events of which we are told. In fact, Gadara and Gergesa were two Gentile
towns on the far side of the Sea of Galilee which were not far from each other. We know
that this was Gentile country because the people kept swine, and these animals were
unclean for the Jews. In a similar manner we may ask if there was only one madman or
were there two as St Matthew tells us. Again this does not matter, and the difference in
the number should most certainly not make us doubt the fundamental truth of the
accounts, still less their spiritual value.
The encounter between Christ and the madman who says his name is legion
is of special note. He is cursed by being possessed by many devils. We too can become
like him. If we fall under the spell of one sin, we find it inevitable that there are many
others which come to join it. Unlike the local citizens and even the Disciples, the devils
have the ability to perceive Christs divinity and cannot avoid proclaiming it. Christ,
however, understands also the value of humanity and proclaims this when he says:
Come out of the man. By allowing ourselves to become possessed by sin [by devils] we
deal a death-blow to our God-given humanity. The man [or men] overcome by devils
had become, as it were, dead to life, and the healing by Christ was thus a kind of
resurrection. So it must be with us. Reconciliation to God through repentance and
confession is a form of resurrection. Unlike ourselves, though, devils are unable to
repent; only the direct intervention of Christ could restore Legions humanity, and it is
only through Christ that we can have our own devils cast out. The madman is described
as being naked, and when we allow ourselves to be possessed by sin, we are also naked,
as it were stripped of our baptismal robes until they are restored to us by Gods
forgiveness.
We might wonder how it was that the local people who had been frightened by
the madman did not rush to thank Christ for his miracle of healing; rather, their only
concern was the loss of their swine. They totally failed to appreciate the blessing which
the presence of Christ had brought. Christ had broght a great opportunity, but they did
not recognize it. Thus, we should note that Christ does not speak with them; the
miracle should have been enough. This silence on His part gives the whole incident an
eternal character. Indeed, all that we read of Him in the Gospels has this eternal
character. It is for this reason that we should never worry about apparent discrepancies
between the various accounts, but always seek to have revealed to us the eternal
message which lies in the inspired words of Holy Scripture.

Archdiocese of Thyateira & Great Britain, 5 Craven Hill, London W2 3EN

Tel.: 020 7723 4787. Fax: 020 7224 9301. E-mail: mail@thyateira.org.uk. Website: www.thyateira.org.uk
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