#in the top 3 stampede moments I regularly think about

[seoafin]

[agameforgoodchristians]

A Legion of Demons (Mark 5:9)

Starting at the End

We’re coming at this Card Talk from a different angle than most. Consider this more midrash, than exegesis. A “what if?” more than “this is what happened.” So we’ll start with an unusual proposition: What if it was the man questioning Jesus, not the demons?

The Man, The Demons, The Pigs

Here’s the story in Mark 5:1-20: Jesus and His disciples cross the water into the region of Gerasenes. The second His feet touch the shore, Jesus was verbally accosted by a man with “an unclean spirit,” a demon, whose situation was dire.

He lived among the tombs, and no one could restrain him any more, even with a chain, for he had often been restrained with shackles and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the shackles he broke in pieces, and no one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always howling and bruising himself with stones. (Mark 5:3-5)

When the man saw Jesus, he ran, threw himself at Jesus’ feet, and screamed, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me” (vs 7). So Jesus gets into a shouting match with the demon (which He wins), and He tells the demon he’s about to be exorcised from the man. But being a nice exorcist, Jesus asks the demon its name and learns that it is not one demon, but a whole bunch of them when it/they replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many” (vs 9). The demon(s) beg not to be sent too far away because they like the region (they’ve put down roots, it’s on the beach) and asks to be sent into a herd of pigs nearby. Jesus, again being a nice exorcist, says sure and sends the legion of demons into the assembled pigs.

So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine, and the herd, numbering about two thousand, stampeded down the steep bank into the sea and were drowned in the sea. (vs 13)

Needless to say, this pissed off the owners of the pigs, who ran into town and told everyone in earshot what happened, eventually demanding that Jesus get the hell out of the region (exorcism pun!). In the meantime, the formerly possessed man, now clothed and thinking clearly, asked Jesus if he could go with Him on His journey. Jesus tells him to go home to his family and his people, and “tell them how much the Lord has done for you and what mercy he has shown you” (vs.19), which of course he did to the amazement of everyone.

There’s the story. But let’s return to vs 7 and our initial question.

What if this is the man talking,

not Legion the demons?

Who’s Asking?

When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him, and he shouted at the top of his voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me!” (Mark 5:6-7)

What are we suggesting? Simple: that it’s the man, not the demons, talking to Jesus in vs 7.

Yes, in vs 8-9 Jesus is talking to the demons and the demons answer in vs 9-12, but we’re asking, what if the initial question was from the man? He isn’t yet “sitting…clothed and in his right mind” (vs 15), but he is briefly lucid in that moment, perhaps because the demons were so scared at the approaching of Jesus. Why would we even propose this question? Re-read verses 3-5 above.

This was a man who had been regularly abused by those in his community who tried everything to cure, save, and help him, but now just try to keep him out of the way: bind him, hold him captive, so he is not a danger to others. He is used to being seen as “other,” as less than. And here comes Jesus. Another in a long line of supposed healers who will only cause him additional pain.

Sure. You think we’re heretics. That’s nothing new. But this reading is not outside the scope of the rest of the chapter. Consider the other pericopes in Mark chapter 5.

The Rest of the Stories

In the rest of chapter 5 of Mark, verses 21-43, Jesus crosses back across the waters and performs two more healings: He brings Jarius’ 12 year old daughter back from the dead, and heals a grown woman with the 12 year old bleeding problem. We won’t spend time with the parallelism (e.g. young and old women, the obvious use of 12 symbolizing the renewal and rebirth of Israel’s 12 tribes heralded by Jesus’ actions). Let’s look at this two women’s stories. Two people who could not find the healing that they needed from those in their community (sound familiar?).

No actions of the religious leaders or politicians saved them. The younger woman was on her death bed, indeed she died and had to be brought back to life by Jesus. For the older women, the text makes it clear that she spent 12 years being taken advantage of by doctors, to the point of her being poverty stricken, while her ailment only got worse.

In addition, she was “unclean” in the eyes of the people, removing her from right worship within the Temple worship [and we’ve written quite a bit about the misconceptions of “clean and unclean” as it relates to the Bible. Read about that here.].

Those in charge of physical, social, and spiritual healing could do nothing for either of these women.

Until Jesus shows up.

All three of these characters know what it is like to have a community think they know what is best and astonishingly fail.

They all have reason to doubt, to question whether healing is possible, whether they will be taken advantage of and hurt by the people who have known them the longest, to say nothing of this stranger.

Which brings to bear another element: the man with legion demons was a gentile, not a Jew (didn’t you wonder why there were so many pigs around? They ain’t kosher.). The man was used to taking it from those in his own community, he didn’t need any more pain from the outside.

Turn on the news and then walk into a church. Listen to things that have been shouted from the pulpit in recent days. Is it really so hard to believe that someone in their right mind might be skeptical of “good christians”?

Perhaps we should not be so quick as to wonder why those on the outside of the household of faith might not be flocking to us for aid or help.

Perhaps we just seem like another in a long line waiting to hurt them.

But what do we know: we made this game and you probably think we’re going to Hell.

[dukeofishgard]

Face claim: Duke. But I cheat.

(I have no idea who I’d use, so instead I’m doing this. the top 3 characters that Duke shares traits with. and why. So there’s that. FIGHT ME.)

Osamu Dazai - Bungou Stray Dogs.

Pretty self explanatory. Both share an open desire to commit suicide, and act pretty goofy in regards to it. Moreover, they’re both overdramatic little shits.

^is pretty much a thing how Duke is acting in at any given moment.

Vash the Stampede - Trigun

Again, pretty obvious. Share a strong desire for peace and justice, and regularly fight against injustice with a smile on their faces. Also share a penchant for the color red. Often cries at the beauty of the world.

Banba Zenji - Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens. 

Strong and wholly dedicated to the ones they care about. Loves to lecture people about things that are important to them, and offer wisdom that may not make sense in the moment, but comes in handy later. Weirdly obsessed with certain foods. Secretly highly skilled killers hidden beneath goofy unassuming exterior.

(also both look good af in glasses)

Tagged by - @repose-and-run & @juste-xiv 

Tagging - you. the person reading this. pls keep in mind the original meme was for faceclaim but i am me and i could not think of one for duke so i did this. feel free to copy me in my trash cheating ways.

[ucalgarywelcomecentre-blog]

How to keep connections with your professors

As you move through your degree you are going to find that having a rapport with your professors is an instrumental part of your university experience. Whether it mean a glowing recommendation letter, individualized help with the subject matter, or just a mentor/mentee relationship with someone who is highly versed in your subject of choice, speaking regularly with your professors will put you steps ahead of the general student population.

 “1. Be engaged in the classroom

The first step to grabbing their attention during class is pretending that your Starbucks actually kicked in, and that you came through those doors wide eyed and bushy tailed. No need to shoot up your hand to every question. But avoid burying your head in your notebook, or surreptitiously texting on the sly. (They know, guys. No one looks down at their crotch and smiles for no reason.)

Keep a healthy amount of eye contact towards the front of the room. Too often I see teachers who will ask the class general questions, such as “Are we all good on that? Everybody understands?” only to be greeted with a symphony of cricket chirps. Be the one who at least nods, or offers a cursory “yup.” Doing readings/homework is part and parcel to being engaged, and contrary to what you may think, that is not self-evident. In the case of readings, staying on top of them and being among the first to raise your hand and discuss what you read is a good way to start showing your professor that you aren’t just there for attendance points.

2. Chat after class

Once you’ve established yourself as conscientious and engaged student–or, even before, if you’re so inclined–join the line of students who want to get a word in after class.

Sometimes there are hefty lines to talk to the professor, sometimes the class is so eager to bolt that they morph into the stampede that killed Mufasa. Either way, make yourself the last in line to talk to the professor, this way there is no rush from a person waiting behind you. Ask a question about that day’s content, or simply something you wanted to share with them that was too lengthy to be a class comment. Maybe say you found something from that day particularly interesting, or ask for clarification on a topic. For example, I’m Iranian and the moment I heard my professor’s accent I could tell she was Iranian as well, so after the first class I B-lined for her desk and told her about our cultural connection.

3. Attend office hours

Office hours are so woefully underutilized.

Your professors are required to set aside X amount of hours per week to field student questions/concerns, and often they complain that these hours are relegated to staring at their office walls and making rubber band balls. Don’t let them go to waste.

Regardless of the amount of students trying to muscle their way in (or not), make at least 3 or 4 office hour appointments per semester (some permit walk-ins). Bring in an issue you want clarified, at least as a jumping off point to start a conversation. Maintain professional boundaries and don’t get into any dicey territory, keep questions about their personal life, if any, very topical. It’s these one-on-one conversations during office hours that are truly the cornerstone of any professor-student relationship.

4. Correspond after the semester ends

The best way to cement a friendship with a professor long after grades have been posted is to keep some casual contact. This doesn’t have to be arranging lunch dates unless you genuinely feel the desire to. I had a history teacher who once a year or so would send me an article via snail mail of something Iran-related, because he knew I would find it interesting. I would mail him a letter or thank you note with some updates of where I was in my academic career. You can remain in touch via email, snail mail, or perhaps stop by one of their classes in a following semester to say hello.”