Today's gospel surely depicts one of the most dramatic incidents in the life of Christ. But what's our reaction to hearing it yet again? Are we at all "amazed", as the gospel says people were? Maybe we're more likely to be disturbed by these stories of Jesus casting out evil spirits. Maybe we're uncomfortable with the image of that possessed man living among the tombs, or with the idea of legions of evil spirits. Maybe we wonder about Jesus condoning the destruction of a whole herd of 2000 swine.

But today let's pay attention to how people reacted to Jesus and what He was doing. And let's notice how we ourselves react to Him in this scripture and in the events of our own lives.

First reaction: how the possessed man, when he saw Jesus in the distance, ran to Him and bowed down before Him. Next how the men looking after those swine ran off into the city and countryside telling people about what happened (were they not afraid they might be blamed for the loss of the herd?). Then, people came out to the place, curious to see for themselves what had happened. And when they saw the healed man sitting there quietly, they were afraid (of what?). Next, in their fear, they "reported" the whole matter (why, and to whom?). And then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighbourhood. Meanwhile, the man who'd been healed went and proclaimed how much Jesus had done for him. And everyone was amazed.