Ukrainian Catholic ChurchAustralia, New Zealand and Oceania
Homily by Deacon Vasyl Motrichenko on the Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost
October 26, 2024
The victory of Jesus Christ over the devil shows us that if we live righteously and with dignity, we can overcome all the wiles and attacks of the evil one and remain in unity with God. But this requires effort and diligence, for tireless work always brings results.
A man came out of the city to meet Jesus, and when he saw him, he cried out, “What do I and you, Jesus, Son of the Most High God, need? I beg you, do not torture me” (Luke 8:28).
Dearly beloved in Christ, on this Sunday, the Holy Gospel presents us with an event described not only by Luke but also by other evangelists, in which a man confesses Jesus Christ as Lord, and evil spirits, calling themselves a legion, obey him and ask permission to go into a herd of pigs.
The name Satan or evil spirit comes from the Hebrew word shatan, meaning adversary, enemy, or devil, and from the Greek word diabolos, meaning slanderer. Under this name lies an invisible being—a spirit whose actions and influence are manifested in the deeds of other persons or beings. Since the creation of the world, the evil spirit has tried to lead humanity astray, attempting to destroy all the beautiful things that the Lord placed within us when He created the world and human beings—the human body, and with it, the immortal soul—because humanity is the greatest and best creation that God has made. But through the fall of man, sin entered the world with all its consequences, and because of sin, humanity lost the ability to be in unity with God.
This unfortunate man, tormented by an evil spirit, was often bound with chains, which he broke. He did not wear clothes; he did not live in a house but instead among the tombs. When he saw Christ, he fell at his feet and asked Him for mercy. At the encounter with Christ, he became fearful, and the evil spirit pleaded to be allowed to enter the herd of pigs.
An interesting point from today’s Gospel is that Jews did not eat pork; for them, pigs were unclean and detestable, yet here, a whole herd of pigs was grazing near the shore. Perhaps Christ, passing by this herd, wanted to reveal that, despite the prohibition, people were breaking the law and consuming pork. By doing so, He exposes their actions, emphasising that failure to follow the law brings punishment, misfortune, and material loss. In the presence of all, He demonstrates that He is the ruler even over Satan, who calls himself a legion but still obeys Christ.
The victory of Jesus Christ over the devil shows us that if we live righteously and with dignity, we can overcome all the wiles and attacks of the evil one and remain in unity with God. But this requires effort and diligence, for tireless work always brings results. Even when a person loses hope for salvation, sees no future prospects, feels exhausted, and has no strength left to move forward, the Lord comes to the rescue. He sees the heart and soul of each person and always extends a helping hand. But we must recognise this and open our hearts to receive God’s grace.
For the Lord’s will is the holiness of every person, here and now. Jesus Christ humbly waits for each of us to invite Him into our lives, and when we do, He comes and performs the miracle of our conversion and healing. As we see in today’s Gospel, the man who met Jesus was freed from the demon, changed his life, and asked Jesus to stay with him because he saw and felt the grace that the Lord gives to those who convert and transform their lives. Before us is a different man from Gadarene who has become kind, intelligent, and joyful and who wants to follow Christ and stay with Him forever, feeling the grace and love that God shows to those who love Him.
In the same way, God offers His help to us, but we must invite Him into our lives and make our hearts a dwelling place for God’s grace and the Holy Spirit. By living here on earth as chosen and beloved children of God who invite Christ into our hearts, live righteously, and establish the kingdom of God here and now, we ensure that the devil will have no power over us. Under God’s protection, we will feel His presence throughout our earthly life. And let us be assured that if we follow His guidance on earth, we will be with God in eternity, in the heavenly dwelling, where the ranks of angels and the faces of saints praise the Lord. Amen.
