This Sunday I am worshipping with All Saints’ Church, Burbage. You will be very welcome to join me for the 11am Holy Communion.

Many years ago now, when I was a young curate, I travelled to Jordan and to the sight of Luke’s story retold today. It is the story of how Jesus released a man from a legion of demons, sending them into a herd of pigs instead, who then leapt from a cliff to their certain deaths. It is one of those stories where you can’t help questioning what the swine did to deserve such treatment.

At first glance the readings set for today seem to share a theme of hospitality (although that may be inspired by memories of sitting in the gentle spring warmth, being served dish after dish of delicious food, at a local restaurant): the psalm for today uses the image of a deer thirsting for water, the Galatians passage reminds us that everyone is welcome, and the Old Testament reading from 1 Kings reminds us of the time Elijah was so low in spirit that God took him to one side to rest, sent angels to bake fresh cake for him, and then encouraged him with gentle whispers. In the gospel reading the hospitality has been abused, I am thinking of rockstars trashing hotels rooms, only with demons instead of musicians, and living beings instead of 5* suites.

A second reading, though and I find myself thinking of freedom, or lack of it, something which the world is struggling with at this point in history; whether it’s the freedom to control your own body, remain in the land you have been raised in, sleep without fear of being attacked by bombs, or even to use a toilet.

In Luke 8: 25-39 Jesus stumbles upon a man who had every sense of peace driven out of him, he was so oppressed and tormented by demons that he lived as a wild man, naked and amongst the tombs, literally in the place of death. The locals had tried to bind him with chains and shackles, but each time he would break free. The man doesn’t even have a name of his own, instead he is referred to as ‘Legion’ due to the amount of demons that resided within him. A legion as a numerical term is around 5,000. It is also a military term indicating the largest unit within the Roman army. Here we have a very personal story of an individual finding Jesus and receiving healing from all that had conquered him, physically, mentally, and spiritually. Here we see Jesus as the healer, the one who loves un-conditionally those who others treat as unclean; however there is another story layered here, and this one features Jesus the Messiah.

Just as the man is overrun by unwelcome guests, so is Israel. Israel at this time is a land occupied by Rome, and legions of Roman soldiers who are positioned to ‘keep the peace’, to enforce Caesar’s rule. ‘Legion’ was a technical, perhaps even respectful, term for the Roman soldiers. A not so respectful term was ‘pig’. In releasing the man from the demons, Jesus is also symbolically releasing Israel from occupation, a message reinforced by sending the legion of demons into the swine.

Perhaps this encounter speaks into the conflicts currently taking place around the world, where one Head of State is convinced that they have the right to rule over and occupy another’s land and people? You can read the story of Legion and the Gerasenes (and the pigs) here.

However, this story does not take place in Jewish territory, Gerasa at this point is Hellenistic, Greek (although later it will come under Roman rule). Paul’s letter to the Galatians also speaks into both subjects of hospitality and freedom.

There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male or female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:28

This letter to the church in Galatia is unlike his other letters: in the way that it is written we know that he is angry! The young Christian church has gone astray, forgetting the freedoms of faith in Christ and returning to ritualistic worship (including circumcision!). In this one pithy verse, Paul reminds the Christians that they are no better or no more valuable or worthy to Jesus than anyone else. It is a verse that has spoken into the abolition of slavery, into the fight for feminism, and an end to anti-semitism, and now needs to be spoken once again into those who are trying to deny the freedoms of others.

The far right in both politics and religion, are actively seeking to deny the freedoms of women, of our LGBTQ+ siblings, and especially those who are transgender. We need more of Christ’s love and affirmation for all who are made in his image, rather than spending our time and energy trying to prove that the shape and image we are formed in is the only right and holy way to be. Paul speaks of an abundance of grace, of freedom to be who we truly are without judgement, and certainly without those in positions of wealth and power using their might to squash those who are at all different. The abundantly loving, graceful Jesus is the one we see most frequently in the gospels, along with the one who shows anger at those who abuse their power to belittle others. A lesson which Paul learned the hard way on the road to Damascus, and spends the remainder of his life passing on to others. True hospitality doesn’t demand others change or hide who they are, and definitely doesn’t penalise them for it, or close their borders to it. Another, later, understanding of the term ‘legion’ was those who guard borders!

I confess to feeling overwhelmed about all that is happening in the world at this time, to which cause should I offer the hospitality of my heart and my prayers (and if I had any, money!)? Perhaps you do too? As I am writing, the UK is in the midst of a heatwave, and my soundscape isn’t just the tapping of keys, but also the paddling pool splashes from next door, and my poor little puggle panting as she tries to keep cool. I am reminded of the words of Psalm 42

As the deer longs for the water brooks,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
My soul is athirst for God even for the living God;

Psalm 42: 1, 2

Perhaps in this season as everything seems to be hotting-up, this Psalm should be our prayer. We receive with gracious hospitality the conflicts in Israel/Palestine, Sudan, Ukraine, Iran, we receive the growing belittlement and control of women, we hold the hatred and lack of humanity towards our transgender and LGBTQIA+ siblings, and breathe prayers of peace and freedom into them as we let them go. It feels counter-intuitive to do so as Christians, shouldn’t we be doing something??? Something, but not everything. Maybe God is calling you towards one cause to share with Jesus, to offer space and hospitality to that cause in your prayers and actions, to stand for freedom and peace and to become a safe and holy space in the way you live your life and engage with others.