Reflection - Shoo!

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/070517.cfm
Genesis 21:5, 8-20
Matthew 8:28-34

In Jesus' time there was a group of ten cities on the eastern frontier of the Roman Empire that were, as a group, known as the Decapolis, that is to say, the ten cities. The ten were scattered in the region between Damascus and Jericho. The were grouped together in the common mind because of their language, culture, location, and political status, all of which reflected strong Greek and Roman influences. Other than the cities of the Decapolis,  the region was occupied by people with a Semitic culture and language. The city of Gadara was one of the ten. 

This geographic fact, as well as the presence of a herd of pigs, strongly suggests that the people of the city In today's incident were not Jews, and were not influenced by The Jewish faith. They did, however, share with the Jews a common belief in demons or evil spirits; therefore, Matthew's description of this incident would readily be understood by both Jews and non-Jews alike. Whether Jesus himself was known to them cannot be determined with the information provided.

In the exchange between Jesus and the demoniac we might easily get the impression that the demons were like leeches or parasites, feeding off their human host, and afraid that, being driven off, they would be denied a source of nourishment. Thus, their plea to be allowed to enter the herd of pigs. Since the Jews already considered the pig to be an unclean animal, Jesus granted the request. That which was evil went into that which was unclean; and that which was unclean went to it's death.

At this point in the story, the townspeople, alerted by the swineherds,  come out to see what is going on. They find a man no longer possessed, a field empty of pigs, a couple of freaked-out herdsmen, and Jesus with his disciples. Then comes the puzzling part of the story. According to the text, "the whole town came out to meet Jesus." The text relates nothing about the people being either excited or astonished. It doesn't even tell us that they are angry or indignant about the loss of the heard of swine. It simply says that "when they saw him they begged him to leave their district." 

The conclusion of this incident has always given me pause. I can easily imagine and relate to the kinds of reactions to Jesus' that we find described elsewhere in the Scriptures. But here we find neither wonder nor surprise, neither anger nor fear, neither excitement nor defensiveness. The fact that a fellow citizen of the town has been restored to health, the fact that a demonic presence has been driven from their midst, the fact that people are no longer in danger as they walk by the cemetery --- all seem to be matters of indifference. None of these appear to be of consequence. My overall impression is that, like the gardener who has found a stray dog or cat in his flower bed or vegetable patch, the townspeople say "Shoo," "Go away!" I cannot speak for the people of Gadara, nor can I know what was in their minds and hearts. I can speculate, and have done so, but without success.

Actually, the more I reflect on this incident, the more I wonder if it is not intended as a metaphor for the response of people to Jesus throughout the ages. Well, let's get specific---I wonder if it is not intended as a metaphor for my own wandering mind and heart---wandering that take me wading through indifferent and unimportant matters during times of meditation or prayer, wandering that leads me on the path of worry and anxiety when I know Jesus has promised to be with me, wandering that would find me sailing on tumultuous seas when He has told me that my own request from the Father will calm the storm. 

"Shoo," "Go away!"