In today's Gospel, we are told of two demoniacs who were exorcised of the demons possessing them and sent by Jesus into a herd of swine which drowned in the sea. The two men were healed but the pigs died. The demons possession may be equalled to being bound by sins. Sometimes we are tempted to use evil means to earn a living and as a result we continue building up wealth and fame until we "beg to be sent to the herd of swine!". Even in such a situation, God's unconditional love and mercy comes in to deliver us. However, in the process, we may have to lose some of the wealth or fame - the pigs being destroyed - because it is only this way that we become free. We should then rejoice and not act like the townspeople who hate Jesus because of the loss of the pigs. Are we really concerned about our own wellbeing or our enslaving pigs? Do we really long for Jesus to be always with us so that we benefit from healing and deliverance from the bondage of sin-even at the expense of losing earthly wealth and fame? Let us do as the psalmist teaches us: "Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing."