Taking an inside perspective
Jesus and the man with an impure spirit
When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!” Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” "My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man-and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed. (Mark 5, 1–20)
Jesus heals a man; the healing also caused some financial difficulties for the people of the town. The man is elated about his healing. The people of the town after a careful analysis decided that its better not to have Jesus amongst them. We understand Jesus as the son of God and we might be surprised at their behaviour. Most people of his time may not have that understanding . For them, Jesus might have been a prophet or a healer or a holy man.
Before we start any further analysis, we should overthrow all tendencies to label the people of that town as evil. Atleast the gospel didn’t say anything clearly at such a conclusion. They are ordinary people, who were interested in their work. I would say, ordinary and relatively good people.
Two broad shades of perspectives can be seen in this gospel. One is the inside perspective, and the other is the exterior perspective. For the healed man (or for his family and close friends), the healing is extremely significant that it outruns all financial losses. For the townspeople, the loss is more significant. Jesus took a more inside perspective with regards to healing, and so he joined with the man. Somehow (no blaming them), townspeople couldn’t take that perspective.
Take the case of a family with three children. Parents have created general rules and they follow them for all the children with absolute precision. The general rules are important, but following them with utmost seriousness and no option of change is working from an exterior perspective. Depending on the singularity of each child and their circumstances, a good parent adapts the rules. In some sense, the parent is taking an inside perspective; and tries to do what is best in the journey of that child, even if that decision don’t stick with their general rules. Same logic can be applied for teachers and mentors. In some sense, there is a partiality, partiality towards the one in need for the sake of their healing and growth.
The church, echoing Jesus, speaks of a preferential option for the poor. Though the church may not always fulfil it, there are many organizations in the church (not forgetting the innumerable secular organisations too) who echoes that option. These genuine individuals and organisations take an inside perspective; from a global capitalist perspectives, their actions don’t make much sense.
Sacrament of confession is another place where Jesus invites the priest (absolutely necessary) to take this inside perspective that they become the agents of God’s love and mercy. Taking an inside perspective is not throwing away the general rules, but reading the rules by keeping the persons and their situations at the centre.
When a close friend/relative is injured, we are worried. But we just brush through many news items of sufferings, wars, pains of much bigger number of unknown people. Its impossible to constantly take an insider perspective, but an invitation from Jesus is probably to take that perspective atleast in situations we are in contact with. This decision by us is of much help for the growth and the healing of someone in need.
