Pentecost 5 C: God in the Shadow Lands

Luke 8:26-39 Dear Partner in Preaching, When I’ve written on this passage in years past, I’ve focused on the power of names. It regularly breaks my heart, for instance, to hear this young man respond to Jesus query, “What is your name?” by answering, “Legion.” He has defined himself, I’ve argued, by his deficits, by his ailment, by his pain, by his struggles and captivity. I’ve contrasted this shrunken, broken reality with the life-restoring gift of a new name and identity in Holy Baptism. I am still struck by this reality and, indeed, think it still preaches. J But this year I was taken not so much by what Jesus said to this...