The pig farmers of the Gerasene territory thought Jesus was bad for business. After all, Jesus was only in town for a day and they lost two-thousand pigs! Of course, Jesus had set the demoniac free and restored peace to the whole area. Nonetheless, business had a higher priority than deliverance, and porkchops were more important than people. So the local Better Business Bureau begged Jesus "to go away from their district" (Mk 5:17).
We frequently repeat this scene in the present day. Our heavenly Father will give us our daily bread, but will limit our personal profits by subordinating them to other people's welfare (1 Tm 6:6). In the end, Jesus was put to death because profits were more important than people. He confronted Judas on this issue when Mary of Bethany "wasted" all that perfume on Jesus' feet. Judas was upset over this (Jn 12:5-6), and afterwards sold Jesus for thirty pieces of silver (Mt 26:15). Business is to serve Jesus and His people, and not vice-versa. If business doesn't serve, it will kill, as Judas did with Jesus – and even himself.
| PRAYER: | Jesus, may the business community bend its knee in submission to You. |
| PROMISE: | "...who by faith conquered kingdoms, did what was just, obtained the promises; they broke the jaws of lions, put out raging fires, escaped the devouring sword; though weak they were made powerful, became strong in battle, and turned back foreign invaders." –Heb 11:33-34 |
| PRAISE: | John gathered with other businessmen at Labor Day Mass to dedicate his company to Jesus' lordship. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College