GOSPEL READING
THE GOSPEL OF MARK
The Man possessed by Legion: Mk 5,1-20
We need to begin by reading the story in Mark's Gospel and then comparing it with Matthew's version, Mt 8,28-34. What is special to Mark's account? How does Mark's conclusion in 5,18-20 (and also Luke's, Lk 8,39) differ from that of Matthew?
Try to divide up the story into scenes, hopefully finding an uneven number of them. Which as a result is the central scene? As we seen before, this will be the key scene of the story.
A look at my response will be helpful at this point.
Reading the Story
We noted earlier how Jesus is moving around in a boat. Where has he arrived this time?
The following verses, 2-5, describe the man. Why might he be expected to be among tombs? What is the significance of all those shackles being broken into pieces?
Who takes the initiative in approaching Jesus? See also 1,23 to find out who is really speaking in verse 7.
Who wins the struggle in verses 8-10? What are the demons forced to tell Jesus? WHat is its significance?
The centre of the story is therefore the herd of pigs (and I do wonder why translators like to use the more obscure word "swine", though we do talk of swineherds (verse 14).) For the significance of pigs (even in Judaism today), see Leviticus 11,1-8. For the sigificance of the lake, consider the preceeding scene, 14,35-41. Who is now in control? What is the effect of this (see for example 3,12)?
The story moves on to the reaction of the local people, verses 14-17. We note the contrast between the man and his previous state. How do they react to Jesus?
The final scene is the encounter between Jesus and the now healed man (5,18-20). What is the sigificance of the area where the man proclaims what Jesus had done for him. How might this have been heard by Mark's Church?
Now we are ready to look again at my response.
The Sunday Gospel
Oddly, this scene is not read on any Sunday in the three year cycle.
We can now continue our reading with the two healings, 5,21-43.