Many of you know that old poem:

Within my earthly temple there’s a crowd
There’s one that’s humble and one that’s proud.
There’s one that’s sorry for his sins,
There’s one that unrepentant sits and grins.

There’s one that loves his neighbor as himself.
There’s one that cares for naught but fame and pelf.
From much corroding cares, I would be free.
If I could once determine which is me.

Our Gospel story today is of a man who could have written a far more powerful poem than that: “My Name if Legion,” he responded when Jesus asked him his name.

There is a suggestion that this is a reference made to the Roman legion, the famous military formation with which Roman armies conquered the world. It makes the case dramatic, because a full Roman legion consisted of 6,826 men man felt that way. Th…