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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider Whoever does not gather with me scatters

Whoever does not gather with me scatters

Published Mar 16, 2023 12:28 am

REFLECTIONS TODAY

Today’s Gospel tells of Jesus driving out a demon. The demon goes out, and the person begins to speak. The passage is silent as to what the healed person speaks about. We can only imagine this person to be very happy that he gives praises to God and begins telling everyone of the beautiful things Jesus did to him. What the passage explicitly tells us is the reaction of the crowds. The crowds are amazed. But this amazement is not purely positive. Jesus does something good, and some reactions from the crowds are negative. Jesus is always surrounded by the crowds. But not everybody in the crowds is truly for him. Some are for something else. From the crowds Jesus invites us to gather closer to him. We must decide to get closer to him and move away from the nameless crowds. Those who do not gather closer to him are scattered. Are we merely part of the nameless crowds who have no personal relationship with him? Do we really want to grow in our relationship with Jesus?

Gospel • Luke 11:14-23

Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed. Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2023,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]); Website: [http://www.stpauls.ph](http://www.stpauls.ph).

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