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Today's Gospel is the story of the man possessed by Legion. He approaches Jesus and the demons are bargaining with Him to spare them. Ultimately Jesus casts them into the herd of 2000 swine which run into the river.

Today what struck me from this story was the following line:

"...The man who had been possessed pleaded to remain with him.
But Jesus would not permit him but told him instead,
'Go home to your family and announce to them 
all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.'"

It was surprising to me that Jesus would turn away someone who wanted to be with Him. But are there not countless ways to be united to the Lord and to serve Him?

I think often of my dear friend Emily who went to the convent to unite herself to Jesus in a profound and intimate way as His bride. But I think too of the many women who enter the convent only to leave days, months, or years later. Jesus does not love these people any less for not being called to be His bride.

Men enter and leave seminary and religious life. Men and women date and seek their vocation in marriage and yet find themselves single. Serving the Lord in our Vocation is important, but which Vocation we're called to doesn't impact His love for us. 

That's what I thought of when I read this passage. The freed man wanted to follow Jesus, but he wasn't called. Does that mean he was relieved from Christian duty? No! Jesus needed this man to go and proclaim all the Lord had done for him. That's where he served. That's how he loved.