God was absolutely clear: He was not interested in sacrifices, liturgies, festivals - in short, anything we would consider religious practices.

God knew all too well that people often used these things as a distraction. They hoped that God would not notice that their society was corrupt and filled with injustice, oppression, and inequality.

God demands what people are so unwilling to give. God wants justice to roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. This is truly worshipping and honouring God. Let us make the quest for a just and peaceful world an essential part of our spirituality and worship.

Jesus restored the demoniac's humanity and place in society. But what about the demons? They knew who Jesus was and why he had come - their time was over! But now they begged him to send them into a herd of swine rather than depart from the area. Pigs were considered unclean by Jews, so there was a bit of humour in the story.

There is also a lesson: even if we expel evil, it will find another place to lodge unless we change our way of thinking. The demons would rather be sent into the pigs rather than leave people in peace. Our hearts and minds must always be in harmony with the divine source. We must never give evil and negativity a home.