In today’s Gospel, we encounter the curious narrative of Our Lord coming upon two possessed men and the demons within them being cast out into a herd of swine. The Evangelist tells us that the demons were so savage that no one would travel by that road in fear of them. Apparently, they were tormenting these poor souls very violently. Passing by, Our Lord has mercy on these men and casts out the demons:
“They cried out, "What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?" Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding. The demons pleaded with him, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine." And he said to them, "Go then!" They came out and entered the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea where they drowned.” Matthew 8:29-32
Fearing hell, the demons request to be cast out into the pigs, and Our Lord grants their request. This is a very interesting exchange. Why does Our Lord grant this request? Could He not have just cast them back into Hell? Wouldn’t they deserve it? Once again, Our Lord does this to show man something important.
St. Thomas brilliantly comments on this passage:
“But it seems that the Lord listened to demons. One should say that he did not listen but permitted and ordered it to come about by his own wisdom, that the malice of the demons might be shown, for unless the Lord restrained them, they would wreak havoc in men just as they wreaked havoc in the pigs. But when the Lord permits something to demons, he does not permit it entirely, but puts a bridle on them; behold, he is in your hand, but yet save his life (Job 2:6). Hence, to indicate this, he permitted them to wreak havoc in the pigs. Also, to indicate that nothing can be except by God’s permission. Also, that man might know his own dignity, since he would permit so many thousands of pigs to be killed for the salvation of one man.”1
It is here that I want to mention the mystery of Providence. God’s providence rules all things since God is the First Cause of all. St. Thomas says:
“We must say, however, that all things are subject to divine providence, not only in general, but even in their own individual selves.”2
These demoniacs, their possession, and the casting out of the demons into the swine are all ruled by God’s providence as St. Thomas notes in the above commentary, “One should say that He did not listen but permitted and ordered it to come about by His own wisdom…” This is the essence of providence. That God orders all things to come about by His own wisdom. This includes certain defects in the moral order as well as natural evils that may befall man.
But why?
St. Thomas gives the answer:
“Since God, then, provides universally for all being, it belongs to His providence to permit certain defects in particular effects, that the perfect good of the universe may not be hindered, for if all evil were prevented, much good would be absent from the universe.”3
This is a very delicate theological truth. God permits certain evils so that a greater good can come about, which otherwise would not have happened had the evil not occurred. As an example, let’s take the occasion of one of the elect falling into mortal sin. All things being equal, we know that mortal sin causes the separation of a soul from God, and if unrepented for, will result in that soul going to hell. Why, then, does God allow for one of His elect to fall into mortal sin? It is because, in His providence, this mortal sin will not go unrepented for. More than that, God allows the elect to fall into mortal sin because the grace and glory which follow the act of repentance are a greater grace and a greater glory than that soul otherwise possessed beforehand!
In this example, the soul who fell received a greater outpouring of grace and glory because of his repentance. That act of repentance would be otherwise impossible had it not been for God permitting that person from falling into mortal sin. Anytime God allows the elect to fall into sin, either venially or mortally, it is exclusively ordered toward their repentance and subsequent increase in virtue, resolve, grace, and holiness.
Let’s bring this back to today’s gospel. St. Thomas alludes to this great mystery at the end of his commentary. Our Lord casts the demons into the swine, not out of hatred for the swine or fondness for the demons, but out of His great love for man. He casts them out “that the malice of the demons might be shown, for unless the Lord restrained them, they would wreak havoc in men just as they wreaked havoc in the pigs.”4 And further, “Also, that man might know his own dignity, since He would permit so many thousands of pigs to be killed for the salvation of one man.”5
In His goodness and wisdom, God allowed6 the demons to possess the individuals so that their deliverance would bring great glory to God and, most importantly for them, aid in their own salvation. Further, Our Lord shows what great dignity man has over the beasts. God loves man far more than any of the beasts and will allow thousands of beasts to die so that the salvation of one man may occur.
This is a great mystery, and it will never be fully comprehended by man. What remains for us is to abandon ourselves to Divine Providence, resting in the knowledge that God, who is closer to us than we are to ourselves, knows infallibly all that is necessary for our salvation. It is for us to abandon ourselves completely to Him. Fr. Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange writes on the spiritual state of those who abandon themselves:
“Then, amidst the joyful and painful events of life, the clash of temperaments, in times of spiritual dryness, amidst the snares of the devil or of men, their suspicion and their jealousies, the soul in its higher regions at any rate remains always at peace. It enjoys this serenity because it is intimately persuaded that God is guiding it and, in abandoning itself to Him, it seeks only to do His will and nothing more. Thus, it sees Him everywhere under every external guise and makes use of everything to further its union with Him. Sin itself, by its very contrast, will recall the infinite majesty of God.”7
To abandon ourselves completely to God and His providence means to see God in all things, gently guiding all to their final end. Rest in His providence and know that all that is given is given for our salvation.
St. Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on the Gospel of St. Matthew, C. 8, L. 4, 737.
Summa Theologiae Ia q. 22, a. 2.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
It is important to note that possession is something that usually happens because someone opens themselves up to demonic influence. Opening up doorways combined with remaining in a persistent state of grave sin opens the soul up to demonic influence of different kinds. In these cases, God may permit the possession to show the soul the effects of their actions. As we know from human interactions, sometimes a person has to experience the consequences of their actions before they can turn away from those actions.
Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, Providence, 258. Emphasis is mine.
Excellent meditation
Thank you