REFLECTIONS TODAY
“If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand” (v 25). This saying of Jesus is true in all human affairs and undertakings—social, political, economic, even religious. This is also true in the realm of the devil, and so to think of Jesus driving out demons by the power of Beelzebul or Satan is both ridiculous and unthinkable. Jesus’ exorcism of unclean spirits can only point to one thing: he is the “stronger man” who binds up the “strong man”—Satan— and plunders his possession. To accuse him of being in league with the devil is to “divide” the Kingdom of God, a great sin against the Holy Spirit who is at work in Jesus.
Abraham Lincoln uses the image of the house divided to defend the union of the states, even at the cost of civil war: “A house divided against itself cannot stand… I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free… It will become all one thing, or all the other.” The United States of America would not endure as one great nation if Lincoln had allowed the Union and the Confederate states to exist as two separate nations. The issue of slavery would remain a thorn on both sides for always.
Gospel • Mark 3:22-30
The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said of Jesus, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “By the prince of demons he drives out demons.” Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables, “How can Satan drive out Satan?
If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand; that is the end of him. But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.
Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin.” For they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”
Source: “366 Days with the Lord 2024,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.