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Gospel: Luke 11: 15-26
When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd 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.
“When an unclean spirit goes out of someone,
it roams through arid regions searching for rest
but, finding none, it says,
‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’
But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order.
Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits
more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there,
and the last condition of that man is worse than the first.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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The Gospels are filled with drama.
In a matter of pages, we encounter demons, lepers, prostitutes, murderers, and even Satan himself.
At first glance, many of us are probably glad we didn’t live back then. Satan seemed to wreak havoc on people’s lives, leaving Jesus to clean up the mess.
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But is our world much different today?
The mark of evil is division. As Jesus says in the Gospels, “A house divided against itself will fall.”
By extension – a family, a community, a nation, a world – divided against itself will fall because its members fight amongst themselves.
How are we responsible for that type of division, even in little ways?
If we gossip about other people; if we nurse a grudge or refuse to forgive; if we post negative or false things online, we sow division.
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Jesus urges us work for unity, instead. This is his final prayer on earth before his crucifixion and death: “That they may be one, Father, as we are one.”
How do I help satisfy Christ’s prayer for peace?
Be the first to apologize after an argument. Pray for those who hurt you. Write a note of encouragement – or call a friend who’s lonely.
As Saint Francis of Assisi prayed some 800 years ago: “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.”
Be like Christ. Be kind today.
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Image credits: (1) Redbubble (2) True Health Initiative (3) Credo Magazine