Knowing The Word in Luke

Jesus has just “cleaned-up” the neighborhood by healing the man and now the neighbors ask him to leave because they don’t understand how he did it! God is among them and leaves when asked to. Jesus orders the healed man to “declare how much God has done” and the man proclaims “how much Jesus had done.” Don’t miss the point here. What Jesus has done God has done. This Gentile understands who Jesus is perhaps better than his own disciples.

34 When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. 35 Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 36 And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. 37 Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. 38 The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.

Prayer:

Almighty Lord God, your glory cannot be approached, your compassion knows no bounds, and your love for all mankind is beyond human expression; in your mercy look on us and all your people: do not leave us to our sins but deal with us according to your goodness. Guide us to the haven of your will and make us truly obedient to your commandments, that we may not feel ashamed when we come before your Messiah’s dread judgement seat. For you, O God, are good and ever-loving, and we glorify you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and for ever, to the ages of ages.

Orthodox Liturgy