Minister Victor Parrott
Mark 5:1-13 (NRSV)

Self Identity 

Whether Mark 5 is a narrative about an actual person or a metaphor about a country occupied by Roman soldiers, it is essentially a story about the loss of self-identity. In the case of an occupied country, the indigenous people would face challenges to their identity from pressures exerted by the occupying forces. They would also experience the loss of a way of life.

If the narrative is in regards to a man, he is away from his rightful place in the community; and, instead he lives in a cemetery. Away from those who would be able to reinforce his self-identity, he behaves in uncharacteristic ways. In fact, he is so uncertain of who he is when Jesus asks him his name, his response is, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” In either scenario, a key theme is one of uncertain self-identity due to a significant loss.

If you have experienced a loss or the reordering of your life, hold on to your identity. Perhaps job loss, divorce, death, health concerns or some other life experience has caused you to reassess who you are. Don’t react in the same manner as the man in Mark 5 who wasn’t quite sure who he was. Just know that within you are the same traits and characteristics that enabled and identified you to this point. And if all else fails and you are still unsure, please know that you are a child of God.

Prayer 

O God our Creator, we ask that you would remove any sense of loss which might impede or obstruct our ability to see that we have not changed. Amen.

Thought for the day 

Circumstances may have changed, but your identity has not.