REFLECTIONS TODAY
Jesus not only has followers and admirers, but also has detractors. He gets accused of doing away with the Law of Moses and the traditions of the elders. The scribes from Jerusalem go one step further by claiming that the prince of the evil spirits, Beelzebul, has taken possession of Jesus. Jesus is thus able to drive out evil spirits as one possessed by the prince of all evil spirits. Jesus responds to the accusation through a parable or comparison. A kingdom or house divided by internecine fight is coming to an end. As with a kingdom or a house, Satan, when pitted against Satan, as suggested by the scribes as the explanation of Jesus’ power over demons, he would come to an end. Rather, a stronger man (Jesus) overcomes a strong man (Satan), not possessed by him.
Jesus intensifies the charge against those who say that he is in league with the demons. They sin against the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist has indicated that Jesus, “the mightier” or “the stronger one,” would baptize with the Holy Spirit (Mk 1:8). The Holy Spirit is present in Jesus’ words and actions, driving out demons and healing the sick (Mk 1:21-28). To suggest that Jesus’ authority comes from the prince of evil spirits is to deny the presence of the Holy Spirit of God. This is “an everlasting sin” (v 29) because this suggests that the Holy Spirit of God is an unclean spirit. How else can human beings be connected with God?
First Reading • Heb 9:15, 24-28
Christ is mediator of a new covenant: since a death has taken place for deliverance from transgressions under the first covenant, those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.
For Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands, a copy of the true one, but heaven itself, that he might now appear before God on our behalf. Not that he might offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary with blood that is not his own; if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly from the foundation of the world. But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages to take away sin by his sacrifice. Just as it is appointed that human beings die once, and after this the judgment, so also Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.
Responsorial Psalm • Ps 98
“Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.”
Gospel • Mk 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: “365 Days with the Lord 2025,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]. Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.