They might turn around and follow Jesus

Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him. – Luke 8.30

Happy Sunday, Middle, and happy Juneteenth!

This particular passage is one of the examples I use when I talk about the importance of knowing the ancient audience for our traditional texts. In this passage, when Jesus asks, “What is your name?”, the reply he receives is Legion, followed by an explanation that this is because many demons had entered him. Ancient audiences would have all made that sound that audiences make when something really resonates (sometimes accompanied by snaps or, in the African Diaspora, “Whew, Chile!”). This is because there, camped just outside their city, was a legion. A legion was about 3,000-5,000 Roman soldiers. Living as oppressed people in this sort of war-torn occupation meant that stories were veiled (even if thinly) so they could be spread further. You may already know what happens next that would’ve caused these early Jesus-followers to laugh and clap.

Imagine reading this passage in the middle of the LA protests, or Gaza, or… the list goes on.

But as thousands of years of distance from the original created a different understanding of Legion. The aforementioned is not my understanding of the Gerasene Demoniac story of my youth. And movies like Poltergeist and The Exorcist only reinforced sermons that I heard about demons. I’m grateful for the reframing that puts the humanity back into the humans of this story. That reminds me that real people cause oppression. That reminds me that oppression was and remains a choice. And if it is a choice, then we can choose something else, something more life-giving, every single day.

See you at church,

Rev. Natalie Renee Perkins

Executive Minister for Digital Church

PS: Remember to register for our Congregational Meeting this Sunday, June 22nd.