Jesus mission is to overcome evil in all its forms.

Good morning, happy Thursday, and many blessings.

In our Gospel today’s (Luke 11:14-23) Jesus tells His followers “whoever is not with Me is against Me, and whoever does not gather with Me scatters” (23)

The choice for most, if not all, of us is clear; we know John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” and we will say that we desire to gather with Jesus because that is much better than the alternative.

But while we may say that we want to gather with Jesus and fight against the spiritual forces of evil, our actions betray that we really wish to remain neutral.  The problem, however, is that there is no neutrality in spiritual warfare.

In verse 14, we discover that Jesus has cast a mute demon out of a man.  This mute demon was causing the man to not be able to speak.  Jesus cast out the demon, “the mute man spoke, and the people marveled” (14).

Verses 15-16 tells us that some people attributed Jesus’ ability to cast out the demon to “Beelzebul, the prince of demons, while others, to test Him, kept seeking from Him a sign from heaven.”  Jesus “knowing their thoughts” replies:

Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? (17-18).

Am I divided against myself – sometimes listening to Jesus, and sometimes listening to Satan?

Jesus’ mission is to overcome evil in all its forms. This is an extraordinary task: it will cost him his life, but we believe that he will succeed. The darkness cannot overcome the light (Saint John 1:5). I thank God for this. It gives me hope to work for our world.

Satan means ‘adversary’ and refers to all that stands against the goodness of God. I may live under a corrupt government, where bad legislation oppresses the innocent, and unfair taxes enrich the powerful. Single-handed I cannot change an institution, but I may be called by God to protest against wrong-doing. I can also pray! And I can get the Sacred Space community to pray with me, through the Chapel of Intentions.

Jesus needed to be regarded then as now as the stronger one. No matter what difficulties people have in life, his power can deal with them. We all must see him as the Master and trust in him.

Whom do I identify with in the crowd which witnesses Jesus’ miracle? With those who watch in amazed belief? With those who reject him? Or with those who hedge their bets, looking for further signs? Jesus forces us off the middle ground. We are either with him or against him.

Blessings,

Fr. Luis+