Fifth Sunday After Pentecost (Rom. 10:1–10; Mt. 8:28–9:1)

The Gadarenes witnessed the Lord’s wondrous miracle in the casting out of a legion of demons, and yet the whole city came out and begged the Lord ”to depart from their region” (Mt. 8:34). There is no sign that they were hostile toward Him, but neither is there any sign of faith. A certain undefined fear had come over them, under which they simply wished: pass on, go where You will, only leave us alone. This is the true image of people who live peacefully in their estates and possessions. A certain order of things has settled around them that is not unfavorable; they have grown accustomed to it, and have neither the thought nor the desire to change or set aside anything, and they are afraid to take any new step. Yet feeling that should a command come from above, the fear of God and their conscience would compel them to abandon the old and accept the new, they carefully avoid whatever circumstances might lead them to such convictions—so that, sheltering behind ignorance, they may live in peace within their old habits. Such are those who are afraid to read the Gospel and the writings of the Fathers, and to enter into conversations about spiritual matters, for fear of disturbing their conscience—which, once awakened, would begin to press them to put one thing aside and take up another.