Daily Readings - Fri Oct 08 2021
Luke
15But some of them said, "It is by Beelzebub, the leader of demons, that he casts out demons.16And others, testing him, required a sign from heaven of him17But when he perceived their thoughts, he said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself will become desolate, and house will fall upon house18So then, if Satan is also divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebub that I cast out demons19But if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your own sons cast them out? Therefore, they shall be your judges20Moreover, if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then certainly the kingdom of God has overtaken you21When a strong armed man guards his entrance, the things that he possesses are at peace22But if a stronger one, overwhelming him, has defeated him, he will take away all his weapons, in which he trusted, and he will distribute his spoils23Whoever is not with me, is against me. And whoever does not gather with me, scatters24When an unclean spirit has departed from a man, he walks through waterless places, seeking rest. And not finding any, he says: ‘I will return to my house, from which I departed.25And when he has arrived, he finds it swept clean and decorated26Then he goes, and he takes in seven other spirits with him, more wicked than himself, and they enter and live there. And so, the end of that man is made worse than the beginning.
Sermon
The Gospel today presents a vivid exchange between Jesus and those who questioned His authority and the source of His power. Some accused Him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub, the leader of demons, while others demanded a sign from heaven to test Him. Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, responded with a series of profound truths. He emphasized that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand, and if Satan were to fight against himself, his kingdom would collapse. Jesus then challenged His accusers, pointing out the inconsistency of their claims and inviting them to consider the deeper reality: if His power was not from Satan, then it must be from God. He warned them that the kingdom of God was already at hand, and they were either with Him or against Him. Finally, He taught a parable about an unclean spirit returning to a man, making his condition worse than before, highlighting the danger of superficial spiritual renewal without true conversion.
This passage is set in the context of Jesus’ ministry, where His miracles and teachings were drawing both admiration and opposition. The Pharisees and others were threatened by His authority and sought to discredit Him by attributing His power to evil forces. Jesus’ response reveals the spiritual warfare at play and the necessity of a radical commitment to God’s kingdom. The readings remind us that spiritual truths are not neutral; we are either aligned with God or against Him. The parable of the unclean spirit serves as a warning against complacency or shallow faith, urging us to seek a deep and lasting transformation in our lives.
In our daily lives, these teachings call us to reflect on our own spiritual state. Are we merely going through the motions of faith, or are we truly surrendered to God’s will? The unclean spirit’s return warns us that a life without a strong spiritual foundation is vulnerable to darkness and sin. Let us ask ourselves: Am I allowing God to truly reign in my heart, or am I resisting His grace? Jesus’ words remind us that the battle between good and evil is real, and we must choose sides. May we strive to be fully with Him, allowing His kingdom to take root in our lives, so that we may experience true freedom and peace.