Abraham is the father of both Isaac and Ishmael and he loves both of them. This should have guaranteed a happy ending but human emotions clouded the scene. Sarah is jealous and fearful and to prevent being pushed aside or excluded, she persecutes Hagar and then drives her away with her son Ishmael. People often behave as if love were a rare commodity with not enough to go around. We exclude or play favourites and we are afraid of being left out. The story tells us that God does not have any part in exclusiveness and does not play favourites. He continues to show His loving care for both Isaac and Ishmael. God seeks unity and reconciliation, and when we work for that goal, we are doing the will of God.

Perhaps we have seen mentally ill people behaving in strange ways in public places. Through fear, we may go out of our way to avoid them. The two demoniacs - who might in fact have been people who were mentally ill - are deprived of human community and compassion. They are outcasts, and their loneliness and sense of rejection and shame only add to their misery. Jesus is not afraid or put off by them and His act of compassion and mercy sets them free. Perhaps we too can overcome our own hesitation and reach out to those whom we fear and those who are different. Compassion is a powerful tool and we might be surprised at the results.