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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.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Sometimes when we get caught in a heated argument and it seems like neither side is winning – or worse, we are losing – we raise our voices in frustration and shout untrue insults about the other person in an effort to hurt them.
Such is the case in today’s Gospel.
Jesus’ enemies catch him driving out a demon from a possessed man. For whatever reason, they are either jealous of the Lord or threatened by his power.
Knowing they cannot win that argument – who but God alone can drive out demons? – they start slandering him. “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons,” they say.
A ridiculous claim.
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Still, the Lord takes them head on, saying he cannot be in cahoots with Beelzebul, because he has come – not to serve Satan – but to drive him out.
“When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe,” Jesus says. “But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils.”
Satan is the “strong man,” who is overpowered by Christ. His “spoils” are every soul caught in sin.
But by his death and resurrection, Christ can free every soul from Satan’s grasp.
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During this Lenten season, we’re invited to ponder, “What aspect of my life remains caught in sin? Where do I need the Lord’s healing power?”
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Some may be under the throes of addiction. Others might have pride, greed, anger, or jealousy deeply rooted in their heart. Others, at times, may be allergic to the truth or afraid to surrender fully to God’s will.
“I have come that they may have life, life in abundance,” Jesus says.
May all who call on the name of the Lord experience the freedom and peace, which Christ has brought us.
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Image credits: (1) FreePik (2) Sound Cloud (3) Cedarview Community Church