January 31, 2021 | The Rev. Thomas Skillings on Jesus' controversial invitation to wholeness
Channel: St. Paul's Burlingame
Date: 30/01/2021

Thomas dives into Biblical Scholar, Mark David's alternative suggestion of what a demon is. Instead of an external evil, he suggests that a demon is like a cage wrapped around someone. Thomas reminds us that the Good News through Jesus exposes the things we think keep us safe as the very things that keep us from living, truly living with others. Jesus shakes the social norms that we think keep us safe and prosperous. And he elicits a response. When Jesus's stories of compassion and care for those most neglected in our society are heard, how do you respond? Thomas suggests that our response of disbelief or defensiveness comes from the very presence of this cage that binds us from experiencing God in a free way. In fact, the bigger the response, perhaps the stronger the cage that wraps and distorts our very self and dignity.