A Confession of Possession

Luke 8:26-39

Exorcism of St Benedict by Spinello Aretino, 1387 {PD} 

The story we encounter today in Luke’s Gospel conjures up images of 1973’s popular horror film The Exorcist for most.

It is a reality that many pastors try to avoid but it is a plain and simple fact, we might as well name it rather than avoid it I’d say. 

Perhaps it is the vivid descriptions of the man’s symptoms, which seem fairly graphic in both Mark and Luke’s tellings. 

Or maybe, it is just our typical response to such stories, an attempt to identify something evil, demonic even, that exists beyond the realm of our own being.

An attempt to remain autonomous from anything we would consider unclean, flawed, or evil. 

But if we are to truly hear the Word today, we have to confront the reality of possession in a context that places us squarely in those tombs of the Gerasenes before Jesus. 

For most of us, it seems that our surroundings and even my attire may be the cause of the barrier in our own minds that we cannot cross with this story. 

Perhaps if I stood before you with a football jersey on my back, with televisions lining the walls, awaiting our order of chicken wings before the big game. 

In that context what does possession mean?

When it comes to possession in a football game I am, sadly, all too familiar with the term. 

As a fan of the WV Mountaineers, I have heard Coach Dana Holgorsen cite this as a key to winning games at nearly every halftime interview. 

Seems its why my Mountaineers can't hold onto a lead following halftime anymore these days. 

They can’t maintain “possession” of the ball, and possession is everything. 

This image, which was originally posted to Flickr.com, was uploaded to
Commons using Flickr upload bot on 05:42, 10 December 2010 (UTC) by Ytoyoda

Very different image than the one that is conjured up in Luke’s Gospel but that may be a better approach to the story for us here today. 

Possession is not about ghosts, goblins, ghouls, or demons. 

It is about control and what we allow to control our lives. 

Today’s Gospel is not clear as to what things have taken over control of the Gerasene man’s life. 

But what is clear is that these things are not of God, in fact they alienate us from God. 

And whatever alienates us from God also estranges us from God’s will for us. 

Severing our ties to not only God but one another. 

It is therefore no surprise to find this resident of the Gerasenes living in the tombs, on the edge of his own community. 

Living on the fray of a Gentile community, a community whose standards of morality and cleanliness are not nearly as stringent as that of the Jewish community that Jesus is part of. 

So when Jesus walks into, not only a community that is considered unclean, but a place for the dead, which is also considered unclean, 

seeking out a man that has been cast out of that unclean community, 

That should tell us a little something about how far this man from Nazareth will go. 

And the most heart wrenching part of the story is when Jesus asks for the man’s name; Legion.

Not as much of a name as a declaration of control. 

Standing before you today, I am sure we could all name those things that have taken possession of our lives. 

Substance abuse, 

financial difficulties, 

estranged relationships with family, spouses, children, or friends

anger

infidelity

despair

or even those things that we quite innocently allow to estrange us from God and one another

Work, sports, or any priorities that cause our alienation. 

But the man from the Gerasenes is occupied by many of these things, and more. 

Because the name Legion is not as much a name but a show of force. 

A Roman legion was made up of 6,826 men.


So, by confessing the name Legion he is confessing to being occupied by 6,826 "things" that take precedent over his relationship with his family, perhaps his wife, his children, his community, his friends, and yes; God. 

Can we honestly even imagine nearly 7,000 things that take over our lives?

Things that separate us from God and from one another. 

Think about it, this guy didn’t even have the internet yet!

If we are truly honest with ourselves, I’m not sure we couldn’t all be considered Virginia Beach Demoniacs. 

I can’t deny it myself. 

Unpacking my office, keeping caught up on the latest tv shows, trying to manage the sale and purchase of houses as my family and I transition to Virginia Beach, trying to familiarize myself with all the new restaurants in the area.

All this and I have yet to even go to the beach!

But have I really been as supportive of my wife, as she packs boxes and balances the kids, as I should be?

Have I really taken the time to return calls from family and friends, congratulating me and supporting me during my ordination?

Have I really devoted the time I should to God through personal devotions and prayer?

Sisters and Brothers, I would be lying if I told you that I have not handed over control of my life to those things that I allow to stand between those I love AND my relationship to God. 

I continuously allow those things that are not of God to possess my life daily, to take possession of me. 

Imagine if I prayed or read scripture as often as I checked Facebook, twitter, youtube, or the scores of a game. 

It is hard to deny it; we are ALL possessed. 

But the hope in this story is that Jesus THE Christ comes to us despite the walls of isolation we build around ourselves, no matter how unclean, no matter how filthy and dark those tombs may be. 

But relinquishing that control of our lives, that possession, it is more than just stripping away those things that separate us from God and one another. 

It is finding some THING to replace those other things. 

When the man from the Gerasenes claims the title Legion, it is a warning to Jesus. 

Marco Dente engraving 1515-1527 {PD}

It is a warning that Jesus as one man, cannot replace all those things that separate this man from community and God. 

~

One of the shows I have enjoyed watching over the past few years is HBO’s series; The Leftovers. 

On this program a psychiatrist, Laurie Garvey, once found herself estranged from her family and friends after joining a cult known as “the guilty remnant". 

Finally leaving the cult, she makes it her mission to liberate others from the cult that she was once part of. 

Through group therapy and private sessions, she slowly liberates many of the guilty remnant’s members. 

In one episode, one of the patients who Laurie has emancipated from the guilty remnant takes her own life shortly after returning to her family. 

When Laurie discovers the death of her patient she despairs and takes personal responsibility. 

But her son, Tom, who assists her in her practice consoles her claiming 

“What she did, it wasn’t our fault, we tried”

To which she questions “Why are we losing?”

“Because they’re giving them something” he responds

“I mean, we can strip it away but once it’s gone we have nothing to put back in it’s place”

To which she proclaims “Then let’s give them some thing!”

~

Sisters and brothers, that is the nature of our afflictions, our possessions. 

The man from the Geresanes is possessed by a Legion of afflictions that possess his life. 

Not just one lustful desire, deceitful transgression, or immoral misdeed that has overpowered his own will and control of his life, but a legion of them. 

And if stripped away, what could ever possibly replace the gap in his life waiting to be refilled with other far greater wickedness. 

Certainly not a man!?

But what about THE Christ?

It is Jesus the Christ that fills that void, that redirects the man into a new state of being and new life, liberated and yes, most certainly justified by grace through faith in Jesus the Christ. 

So it is any wonder that this man begs to remain with Jesus. 

Can we blame him?

It is so easy to feel inspired, fulfilled, and forgiven as we sit here before the cross. 

Assured of our absolution as we begin worship

Renewed and strengthened by the meal we will soon receive, when we return to the pews with the pungent aftertaste of the wine on our breath. 

And inspired to serve following the incredible sermon from our new pastor… maybe?

But certainly inspired when we are charged at the dismissal to go in peace and proclaim the good news following the benediction. 

But how far out of the parking lot can we take it?

I don’t know about you, but sometimes, I just want to stay here. 

While worship is something we do in our daily living it is something that is far easier to do in this place surrounded by these like-minded people. 

And certainly it is easier to feel Christ’s presence in this place than in our travels through that tunnel I have grown to know so well already. 

It’s not just you, we ALL feel that way and so did the man from the Gerasenes. 

~

Last weekend, as many of you know, I was ordained in Roanoke. 

It didn’t hit me until 24 hours before the ordination but when it did, my mind was going a mile a minute. 

Over the past four years and even longer, I have taken on pastoral roles. 

But this was different. 

About 4 hours out, I became terrified. 

Not because of the crowd of people from across the synod gathered to worship at St Andrews in Roanoke. 

Not because I have failed in my studies.

And certainly not because of the ominous presence of Bishop Mauney. 

He is certainly anything but ominous. 

It was because for the first time since July 9th, 2001, I felt that I had come into waters that were far too deep for me to wade. 

On that date in 2001, in the middle of the night, I wasn’t sure if I could accomplish the task at hand. 

I wasn’t sure if I was worthy of the title I was seeking. 

At Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit depot, as those yellow footprints lay before me and the Drill Instructor screamed instructions to stand before him on those yellow footprints, I was intimidated by the task at hand. 

Yellow footprints at MCRD Parris Island
(Public domain)

Uncertain of my worthiness. 

Last weekend, I felt very much the same. 

In the side room, where we don our albs and stoles, I was asked the same question time and again by friends, family, and pastors as I swallowed the lump in my throat; 

“Are you ready?”

All I could muster in reply was simply “No, I don’t think any of us are”

Like the man from the Gerasene I knew and and still know, I am unworthy of sharing the good news we receive in Jesus Christ. 

But as Pastor Stephen carried out the prayer kneeler before the altar during the hymn of the day, 

Looking up to me as if to say “You better get your knees on those yellow footprints!”

I knew that regardless of how worthy I was, this was the mission I was being called to.

Following worship, I felt confident and hopeful. 

We went back to the hotel for some sleep before rolled out of bed to see off my Uncle, bright and early, who had surprised me with his attendance at the ordination. 

As we sat in the lobby of the hotel, sipping on coffee before his departure, I saw breaking news flash across the television behind his head. 

And it was in that moment that I realized that this mission we are all called to, would have been far easier if I could have just remained in that beautiful church at St Andrews in Roanoke. 

But we aren’t just called to share that good news in just the beautiful sanctuaries we worship.

~ 

I pray to God that someone was sharing that good news, that promise, that hope, that cross, with those who were taking their final breaths at a nightclub in Orlando on Sunday morning. 

Amen

St Francis Kneeling before Christ on the Cross 

by Stefano di Giovanni 1437-44 {PD-1923}

Sources

Blatty, William Peter. The Exorcist. Directed by William Friedkin. USA: Warner Bros, 1973. Film.

Perotta, Tom, Damon Linelof, and Patrick Somerville. The Leftovers; Season 2 Episode 3 “Off Ramp.” Directed by Carl Franklin. n.p., 2015. HBO.