Friday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 465
Lectionary: 465
Brothers and sisters:
Realize that it is those who have faith
who are children of Abraham.
Scripture, which saw in advance that God
would justify the Gentiles by faith,
foretold the good news to Abraham, saying,
Through you shall all the nations be blessed.
Consequently, those who have faith are blessed
along with Abraham who had faith.
For all who depend on works of the law are under a curse;
for it is written, Cursed be everyone
who does not persevere in doing all the things
written in the book of the law.
And that no one is justified before God by the law is clear,
for the one who is righteous by faith will live.
But the law does not depend on faith;
rather, the one who does these things will live by them.
Christ ransomed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us,
for it is written, Cursed be everyone who hangs on a tree,
that the blessing of Abraham might be extended
to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus,
so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Realize that it is those who have faith
who are children of Abraham.
Scripture, which saw in advance that God
would justify the Gentiles by faith,
foretold the good news to Abraham, saying,
Through you shall all the nations be blessed.
Consequently, those who have faith are blessed
along with Abraham who had faith.
For all who depend on works of the law are under a curse;
for it is written, Cursed be everyone
who does not persevere in doing all the things
written in the book of the law.
And that no one is justified before God by the law is clear,
for the one who is righteous by faith will live.
But the law does not depend on faith;
rather, the one who does these things will live by them.
Christ ransomed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us,
for it is written, Cursed be everyone who hangs on a tree,
that the blessing of Abraham might be extended
to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus,
so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Responsorial Psalm PS 111:1B-2,
3-4, 5-6
R. (5) The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart
in the company and assembly of the just.
Great are the works of the LORD,
exquisite in all their delights.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
Majesty and glory are his work,
and his justice endures forever.
He has won renown for his wondrous deeds;
gracious and merciful is the LORD.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
He has given food to those who fear him;
he will forever be mindful of his covenant.
He has made known to his people the power of his works,
giving them the inheritance of the nations.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart
in the company and assembly of the just.
Great are the works of the LORD,
exquisite in all their delights.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
Majesty and glory are his work,
and his justice endures forever.
He has won renown for his wondrous deeds;
gracious and merciful is the LORD.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
He has given food to those who fear him;
he will forever be mindful of his covenant.
He has made known to his people the power of his works,
giving them the inheritance of the nations.
R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
Gospel LK
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.”
“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.”
Meditation: "If
it is by the finger of God"
When danger lurks, what kind of protection do you seek? Jesus
came to free us from the greatest danger of all - the corrupting force of evil
which destroys us from within and makes us slaves to sin and Satan (John 8:34).
Evil is not an impersonal force that just happens. It has a name and a face and
it seeks to master every heart and soul on the face of the earth (1 Peter
5:8-9). Scripture identifies the Evil One by many names, 'Satan', 'Beel'zebul -
the 'prince of demons', the 'Devil', the 'Deceiver', the 'Father of Lies', and
'Lucifier', the fallen angel who broke rank with God and established his own
army and kingdom in opposition to God.
Jesus declared that he came to overthrow the power of Satan and
his kingdom (John 12:31). Jesus' numerous exorcisms brought freedom to many who
were troubled and oppressed by the work of evil spirits. Jesus himself encountered
personal opposition and battle with Satan when he was put to the test in the
wilderness just before his public ministry (Matthew 4:1; Luke 4:1). He overcame
the Evil One through his obedience to the will of his Father.
Some of the Jewish leaders reacted vehemently to Jesus' healings
and exorcisms and they opposed him with malicious slander. How could Jesus get
the power and authority to release individuals from Satan's influence and
control? They assumed that he had to be in league with Satan. They attributed
his power to Satan rather than to God. Jesus answers their charge with two
arguments. There were many exorcists in Palestine in Jesus' time. So Jesus
retorted by saying that they also incriminate their own kin who cast out
demons. If they condemn Jesus they also condemn themselves.
In his second argument Jesus asserts that no kingdom divided
against itself can survive for long. We have witnessed enough civil wars in our
own time to prove the destructive force at work here for the annihilation of
whole peoples and their land. If Satan lends his power against his own forces
then he is finished. Cyril of Alexandria, a 5th century church father explains
the force of Jesus' argument:
Kingdoms are established by the fidelity of subjects and the
obedience of those under the royal scepter. Houses are established when those
who belong to them in no way whatsoever thwart one another but, on the
contrary, agree in will and deed. I suppose it would establish the kingdom too
of Beelzebub, had he determined to abstain from everything contrary to himself.
How then does Satan cast out Satan? It follows then that devils do not depart
from people on their own accord but retire unwillingly. “Satan,” he says, “does
not fight with himself.” He does not rebuke his own servants. He does not
permit himself to injure his own armor bearers. On the contrary, he helps his
kingdom. “It remains for you to understand that I crush Satan by divine power.”
[Commentary on Luke, Homily 80]
How can a strong person be defeated except by someone who is
stronger? Jesus asserted his power and authority to cast out demons as a clear
demonstration of the reign of God. Jesus' reference to the 'finger of
God' points back to Moses' confrontation with Pharoah and his
magicians who represented Satan and the kingdom of darkness (see Exodus 8:19).
Jesus claims to be carrying on the tradition of Moses whose miracles freed the
Israelites from bondage by the finger of God. God's power is
clearly at work in the exorcisms which Jesus performed and they give evidence
that God's kingdom has come.
What is the point of Jesus' grim story about a vacant house
being occupied by an evil force? It is not enough to banish evil thoughts and
habits from our lives. We must also fill the void with God who is the source of
all that is good, wholesome, true, and life-giving for us. Augustine of Hippo
said that our lives have a God-shaped void which only God can fill
satisfactorily. If we attempt to leave it vacant or to fill it with something
else, we will end up being in a worse state in the end.
What do you fill the void in your life with? The Lord Jesus
wants to fill our hearts and minds with the power of his life-giving word and
healing love. Jesus makes it very clear that there are no neutral parties in
this world. We are either for Jesus or against him, for the kingdom of God or
against it. There are ultimately only two kingdoms which stand in opposition to
one another - the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness which is under the
rule of Satan. If we disobey God's word, we open to door to the power of sin
and Satan.
If we want to live in true freedom, then our "house"
(the inner core of our true being) must be occupied by Jesus where he is
enthroned as Lord and Savior. The Lord assures us of his protection from spiritual
harm and he gives us the help and strength we need to resist the devil and his
lies (James 4:7). "Because you have made the Lord your refuge, the Most
High your habitation, no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent.
For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your
ways"(Psalm 91:9-11). Do you know the peace and security of a life
submitted to God and his word?
"Lord Jesus, be the ruler of my heart and the master of my
home. May there be nothing in my life that is not under your lordship."
 Keeping House |
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October 10, 2014. Friday of the Twenty-seventh Week in
Ordinary Time
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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
person is worse than the first."
Introductory Prayer: Lord, you are omnipotent, all-powerful. For that reason
alone, I ought to ally myself to you. I believe that you can do all things. I
am confident that you will act in my life. I love you because even though you
are the all-powerful God, you are humble, having made yourself one like me,
so that I can approach you without being intimidated, with trust.
Petition: Lord Jesus, your kingdom come in my soul!
1. THE Sign from Heaven: When Jesus casts out a demon
from a soul, some of the bystanders then ask him to perform a sign from
heaven. Jesus is the sign from heaven, the living presence of God with us.
His casting out a demon already testifies that he can do what no one else can
do. It proves that he is God. However, I want to fix my eyes on him as the
object of my love, not on the spectacular things that he does. It is
important to look at the Giver, not the gift he gives.
2. The Kingdom of God: There is combat going on, and the
human soul is the battleground. In this case the man is freed of demonic
possession, and one kingdom has been dispossessed of its conquest. Another
Kingdom is on the move! Light is replacing darkness. Springtime melts away
the winter. This brings joy and warmth to my soul.
3. The Gentle Guest: When the soul has been freed from
the effects of evil, it can be likened to a tidy house. Jesus chose to clean
the house, the interior dwelling place, of the possessed man. He will not, by
his choice alone, take up the vacant place in that soul. He very much desires
to be there, but he knocks and wants to be invited in freely by the
homeowner. Once at home in my heart, Jesus is the strong man whom no one can
overcome.
Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus Christ, I am not content
just with being liberated from sin, although that is already a great gift. I
know that you are knocking at the door of my heart. I ask you to come in and
make my soul your dwelling place. I have been made to be a dwelling place of
the Blessed Trinity, and I desire that fullness of life.
Resolution: I will be attentive to the fact that I am a dwelling of
God and look to do what is worthy of that dignity. Specifically, I will be
attentive to the thoughts that pass through my mind and the words that cross
my lips today.
By Father Patrick Butler, LC
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, LUKE 11:15-26
(Galatians 3:22-29; Psalm 111)
(Galatians 3:22-29; Psalm 111)
KEY VERSE: "If it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you" (v 20).
READING: When Jesus exorcised a man who was mute, he was accused of working miracles by the power of Beelzebul (Satan, a popular name for the master of demons). Jesus pointed out the absurdity of this accusation. It was self-defeating for Satan to allow his power to work against himself. Jesus asked the people whether they were acting in God's name or Satan's when they drove out evil. If they did not join Jesus in his opposition to the Evil One, they were assisting the adversary's attempt to destroy God's kingdom. Jesus warned them that when Satan had been driven out, they must strengthen their spiritual households. Otherwise, the Evil One would return, and their lives would be worse off than they were before.
REFLECTING: Do I do my best to guard my household from evil?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, heal all the weak and sinful areas of my life.
Friday 10 October 2014
Day of penance.
Galatians 3:7-14. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever—Ps
110(111):1-6. Luke 11:15-26.
Twice Jesus makes the point
that there is no neutrality in the realm of the spirit.
We are continually faced
with the choice between good or evil, between the love of God and neighbour or
the disordered love of ourselves. If we choose good, we are for Jesus;
otherwise we are against him.
The same idea is presented
again in the curious story of the unclean spirit which is expelled but finds no
place of rest so it returns to its original habitation. Jesus is saying that it
is not sufficient merely to exorcise the evil from our life—we need to fill it
with the positive love of God.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
Total Solidarity
Pain is the rent we pay for being human, it seems, but suffering
is usually optional. The cross was Jesus’s voluntary acceptance of undeserved
suffering as an act of total solidarity with all of the pain of the world.
Reflection on this mystery of love can change your whole life.
LECTIO DIVINA:
LUKE 11,15-26
Lectio:
Friday, October 10, 2014
Ordinary Time
1)
OPENING PRAYER
Father,
your love for us
surpasses all our hopes and desires.
Forgive our failings,
keep us in your peace
and lead us in the way of salvation.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
your love for us
surpasses all our hopes and desires.
Forgive our failings,
keep us in your peace
and lead us in the way of salvation.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2)
GOSPEL READING - LUKE 11,15-26
Jesus was driving out a devil, but some of the people said, 'It
is through Beelzebul, the prince of devils, that he drives devils out.' Others
asked him, as a test, for a sign from heaven; but, knowing what they were
thinking, he said to them, 'Any kingdom which is divided against itself is
heading for ruin, and house collapses against house.
So, too, with Satan: if he is divided against himself, how can
his kingdom last? - since you claim that it is through Beelzebul that I drive
devils out. Now if it is through Beelzebul that I drive devils out, through
whom do your own sons drive them out? They shall be your judges, then. But if
it is through the finger of God that I drive devils out, then the kingdom of
God has indeed caught you unawares. So long as a strong man fully armed guards
his own home, his goods are undisturbed; but when someone stronger than himself
attacks and defeats him, the stronger man takes away all the weapons he relied
on and shares out his spoil.
'Anyone who is not with me is against me; and anyone who does
not gather in with me throws away.
'When an unclean spirit goes out of someone it wanders through
waterless country looking for a place to rest, and not finding one it says,
"I will go back to the home I came from." But on arrival, finding it
swept and tidied, it then goes off and brings seven other spirits more wicked
than itself, and they go in and set up house there, and so that person ends up
worse off than before.'
3)
REFLECTION
• Today's Gospel speaks about a long discussion around the
expulsion of a mute demon which Jesus had before the people.
• Luke 11, 14-16: Three diverse reactions in the face of that
expulsion. Jesus was casting out devils. Before this very visible fact, before
everyone, there were three different reactions. People were surprised,
astonished and applauded. Others said: "it is in the name of Beelzebul
that he casts out devils". The Gospel of Mark tells us that it was a
question of the Scribes who had gone to Jerusalem to control the activity of
Jesus (Mk 3, 22). Others still asked for a sign from heaven, because they were
not convinced by such an evident sign such as the expulsion done in front of
all the people.
• Luke 11, 17-19: Jesus shows the incoherence of the enemies.
Jesus uses two arguments to confirm the accusation of casting out the devil in
the name of Beelzebul. In the first place, if the devil casts out the devil
himself, he divides himself and will not survive. In the second place, Jesus
gives them back their argument: If I cast out the demons in name of Beelzebul,
your disciples cast them out in whose name? With these words, they were also
casting out demons in the name of Beelzebul. .
• Luke 11, 20-23: Jesus is the strongest man who has come, a
sign of the arrival of the Kingdom. Here Jesus leads us to the central point of
his argument: "When a strong man, fully armed guards his own home, his
goods are undisturbed; but when someone stronger than himself attacks and
defeats him, the stronger man takes away all the weapons he relied on and shares
out his spoil". According to the opinion of the people of that time, Satan
dominated the world through the demons (daimônia). He was a strong and well
armed man who guarded his house. The great novelty was the fact that Jesus
succeeded to cast out the demons. This was a sign that he was and is the
strongest man who has come. With the coming of Jesus the kingdom of Beelzebul
was declining: "But if it is through the finger of God that I drive devils
out, then the kingdom of God has indeed caught you unawares". When the
magi of Pharaoh saw that Moses did things that they were not capable of doing,
they were more honest than the Scribes before Jesus and they said: "Here
is the finger of God!" (Ex 8, 14-15).
• Luke 11, 24-26: The second fall is worse than the first one.
At the time of Luke in the years 80's, a time of persecution, many Christians
returned back and abandoned the community. They went back to live as before. To
warn them and all of us, Luke keeps these words of Jesus on the second fall
which is worse than the first one.
• The expulsion of the demons. The first impact caused by the
action of Jesus among the people is the expulsion of the demons: "He gives
orders even to unclean spirits and they obey him!" (Mk 1, 27). One of the
principal causes of the discussion of Jesus with the Scribes was the expulsion
of the devils. They slandered against him saying: "He is possessed by
Beelzebul!" "It is in the name of Beelzebul, head of demons that he
casts out devils!" The first power that the Apostles received when they
were sent out on mission was the power to drive out demons: "He gave them
authority over unclean spirits" (Mk 6 ,7). The first sign which
accompanies the announcement of the Resurrection is the expulsion of demons:
"The signs that will be associated with believers, in my name they will
cast out devils!" (Mk 16, 17). The expulsion of devils was what struck
people more (Mc 1,27). This reached the centre of the Good News of the Kingdom.
By means of the expulsion Jesus restored or recovered persons to themselves. He
restored them their judgment, their conscience (Mk 5, 15). And, especially, the
Gospel of Mark, from beginning until the end, with almost words which are the
same, constantly repeats the same image: "And Jesus cast out devils!"
(Mk 1, 26.34.39; 3, 11-12. 22.30; 5, 1-20; 6, 7.13; 7, 25-29; 9, 25-27.38; 16,
17). It seems to be a refrain which is always repeated. Today, instead of
always using the same words, we will use different words to transmit the same
image and we will say: "The power of evil, Satan, who causes so much fear
to people, Jesus overcame him, dominated him, seized him, conquered him, cast
him out, eliminated him, exterminated him, destroyed him and killed him!"
With this the Gospel wants to tell us that: "It is forbidden to the
Christian to fear Satan!" By his Resurrection and by his liberating
action, Jesus drives away from us the fear of Satan, he gives freedom to the
heart, firmness in our actions and causes hope to emerge in the horizon! We
should walk along the path of Jesus savouring the victory over the power of
evil!
4)
PERSONAL QUESTIONS
• To drive out the power of evil. Which is today the power of
evil which standardizes people and robs from them the critical conscience?
• Can you say that you are completely free? In the case of a
negative response, some part of you is under the power of other forces. What do
you do in order to cast out this power which dominates you?
5) Concluding prayer
Full of splendour and majesty his work,
his saving justice stands firm for ever.
He gives us a memorial of his great deeds;
Yahweh is mercy and tenderness. (Ps 111,3-4)
his saving justice stands firm for ever.
He gives us a memorial of his great deeds;
Yahweh is mercy and tenderness. (Ps 111,3-4)
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