As we complete the 24th week after Pentecost, our assigned readings are again from Paul’s letter to the Church in Ephesus and Luke’s version of the curing of the Gerasene demoniac. It should be noted that this story about casting out demons appears in all three synoptic Gospels, albeit in slightly different forms.

Paul’s words to the Ephesians represent his understanding of the impact of the Incarnation of God in the Person of Jesus. God’s incarnation has united all humans into one family and, through the Person of Jesus, we all have “access in one Spirit to the Father.” This is one of the essential insights of Christianity. All humans, because God assumed human nature, are united in Christ. God’s action was intended to break “down the barrier of hostility that kept” people apart.

It is interesting that the story of the cure of the possessed man presents a picture of how “demons” or “evil spirits” kept the man separated from others and how the entire population of the territory didn’t want things changed. It is also interesting to note that the possessed man wore no clothes and lived among the tombs – among the dead – and not in a house. He was truly an uncivilized person, his nudity and living among the dead present him as truly not human.

Prejudice and bigotry separate us from others and make us uncivilized. We become the living dead when we do not embrace the idea that all human beings are united because of God’s life-force which brings and keeps all humans in existence. Prejudice and bigotry are spawn by a truly “evil spirit” – a spirit which separates us as humans and keeps us from truly seeing the truth about God’s creation.

Prejudice and bigotry flow from insecurity and arrogance. A bigot needs to inflate his/her own feelings of self-worth by attempting to depreciate the value and worth of others.

Through Christ, God has called us to unconditionally love and accept all others. Why? Because they, like us, are living temples of God’s own Spirit, even if they don’t recognize it. We respect others and accept others because of what we believe about humankind, namely that God has made all humans in His image and has infused into all humans the potential to grow in His likeness. It doesn’t matter whether others recognize this reality. We recognize this reality if we truly believe in Jesus Christ, Who is God Himself incarnate as a human.

What message do these readings have for you?