What about the pigs?

I don’t think I’ve done this here on my blog before but I want to offer a short follow up on the sermon I preached on June 22. (Here’s the lectionary readings for this past Sunday, specifically Luke 8:26–39; and here’s a link to the sermon.)

After my sermon, one of those listening asked me, “what about the pigs? Why didn’t you talk about how Jesus killed all the pigs as punishment for the swine-herders telling him to leave?”

“That’s an interesting way of looking at it,” I replied, “why do you think Jesus would kill the pigs as punishment.”

“Because Jews don’t eat pork.”

“Well, two points: the people where Jesus was weren’t Jews, they were gentiles, Gerasenes, and Jesus didn’t decide to send the demons into the pigs, the demons asked to be sent into the pigs. Jesus gave them what they asked for and the demons caused the pigs to run off the cliff.”

After a few thoughtful moments, my conversation partner exclaimed, “Oh, Jesus left the demons to their own devices!” I could see the light bulb of understanding flash above their head.

“Yes, Jesus left the demons to their own devices and their choice got them and the pigs killed.”

“Well, why didn’t you point that out in the sermon?”

“Because it’s more fun to watch you put the pieces together for yourself,” I said.

“It was fun,” they said and walked over to others gathered with coffee to share what they had just put together.

These are the moments that make me so proud as a preacher – when someone listening takes what I’ve said and continues to ponder it for themselves. This is how we make our knowledge of scripture our own and grow in our relationship with God. If we just receive information and do nothing with it, we’ve gained nothing. But when we really take it in and think about it with our hearts and minds, it becomes a tool for growth and transformation as we become who God created and calls us to be.

I’m also wrapping up a small group study this week where we’ve talked about how everything in our worship service (and our Book of Common prayer as a whole) is meant to shape and transform us, to help us grow as God’s beloved people. We have had some awesome conversations and I’m so grateful for the willingness of others to ask questions and be open to learning. What we do on Sundays isn’t passive but a time when we participate with God and each other in this thin space where we step into God’s throne room to be equipped and empowered to spread the good news of God’s love in the every day moments of our lives.

Thanks for letting me share this story with you. I hope and pray it helps you be more and more present to God’s glorious work in each of us that binds us together as the body of Christ. Peace and love, my friends.