Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of
Unborn Children
Lectionary: 317
Lectionary: 317
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.
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
PsalmPS 98:1, 2-3AB, 3CD-4,
5-6
R. (1a) Sing to
the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
Alleluia2 TM 1:10
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMK 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."
"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."
Meditation: Jesus frees us from Satan's power
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', 'Beelzebul -
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.
The Lord Jesus frees us from Satan's power
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.
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 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]
Jesus asserted his
authority to cast out demons as a clear demonstration of the reign 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.
Being clothed in God's strength
What kind of spiritual danger or harm should we avoid at all costs? Jesus used the illustration of a strong man whose house and possessions were kept secure. How could such a person be overtaken and robbed of his goods except by someone who is stronger than himself? Satan, who is our foe and the arch-enemy of God, is stronger than us. Unless we are clothed in God's strength, we cannot withstand Satan with our own human strength. What does Satan wish to take from us - our faith and confidence in God and our readiness to follow God's commandments. Satan is a rebel and a liar. Satan can only have power or dominion over us if we listen to his lies and succumb to his will which is contrary to the will of God. Jesus makes it clear that there are no neutral parties in this world. We are either for Jesus or against him, for the kingdom of God or opposed to it.
What kind of spiritual danger or harm should we avoid at all costs? Jesus used the illustration of a strong man whose house and possessions were kept secure. How could such a person be overtaken and robbed of his goods except by someone who is stronger than himself? Satan, who is our foe and the arch-enemy of God, is stronger than us. Unless we are clothed in God's strength, we cannot withstand Satan with our own human strength. What does Satan wish to take from us - our faith and confidence in God and our readiness to follow God's commandments. Satan is a rebel and a liar. Satan can only have power or dominion over us if we listen to his lies and succumb to his will which is contrary to the will of God. Jesus makes it clear that there are no neutral parties in this world. We are either for Jesus or against him, for the kingdom of God or opposed to it.
There are ultimately only two kingdoms in opposition
to one another - the kingdom of God's light and truth and the kingdom of
darkness and deception under the rule of Satan. If we disobey God's word, we
open the door to the power of sin and Satan's influence in our lives. If we
want to live in true freedom from the power of sin and Satan, then our
"house" - our mind and heart and whatever we allow to control our
appetites and desires - must be occupied and ruled by Jesus Christ where he is
enthroned as Lord and Savior. Do you know the peace and security of a life
submitted to God and to his Word?
Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit
What is the unforgivable sin which Jesus warns us to avoid? Jesus knows that his disciples will be tested and he assures them that the Holy Spirit will give them whatever grace and help they need in their time of adversity. He warns them, however, that it's possible to spurn the grace of God and to fall into apostasy (giving up the faith) out of cowardice or disbelief. Why is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit reprehensible? Blasphemy consists in uttering against God, inwardly or outwardly, words of hatred, reproach, or defiance. It's contrary to the respect due God and his holy name. Jesus speaks of blaspheming against the Holy Spirit as the unforgivable sin.
What is the unforgivable sin which Jesus warns us to avoid? Jesus knows that his disciples will be tested and he assures them that the Holy Spirit will give them whatever grace and help they need in their time of adversity. He warns them, however, that it's possible to spurn the grace of God and to fall into apostasy (giving up the faith) out of cowardice or disbelief. Why is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit reprehensible? Blasphemy consists in uttering against God, inwardly or outwardly, words of hatred, reproach, or defiance. It's contrary to the respect due God and his holy name. Jesus speaks of blaspheming against the Holy Spirit as the unforgivable sin.
Jesus spoke about this sin immediately after the
scribes and Pharisees had attributed his miracles to the work of the devil
instead of to God. A sin can only be unforgivable if repentance is impossible.
If people repeatedly closes their eyes to God, shuts their ears to his voice,
and reject his word, they bring themselves to a point where they can no longer
recognize God when he can be seen and heard. They become spiritually
blind-sighted and speak of "evil as good and good as evil" (Isaiah
5:20).
The Holy Spirit heals and transforms us
To fear such a state of sin and spiritual blindness, however, signals that one is not dead to God and is conscious of the need for God's grace, mercy, and help. There are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who refuses to acknowledge and confess their sins and to ask God for forgiveness, spurns God's generous offer of mercy, pardon, grace, and healing. Through their own stubborn pride and willfulness, they reject God, refuse his grace and help to turn away from sin, and reject the transforming power of the Holy Spirit to heal and restore them to wholeness. God always gives sufficient grace and help to all who humbly call upon him. Giving up on God and refusing to turn away from sin and disbelief results from pride and the loss of hope in God.
To fear such a state of sin and spiritual blindness, however, signals that one is not dead to God and is conscious of the need for God's grace, mercy, and help. There are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who refuses to acknowledge and confess their sins and to ask God for forgiveness, spurns God's generous offer of mercy, pardon, grace, and healing. Through their own stubborn pride and willfulness, they reject God, refuse his grace and help to turn away from sin, and reject the transforming power of the Holy Spirit to heal and restore them to wholeness. God always gives sufficient grace and help to all who humbly call upon him. Giving up on God and refusing to turn away from sin and disbelief results from pride and the loss of hope in God.
What is the basis of our hope and confidence in God?
Through Jesus' death on the cross and his victory over the grave when he rose
again on the third day, Satan has been defeated and death has been overcome. We
now share in Christ's victory over sin and Satan and receive adoption as God's
sons and daughters. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Lord enables us to
live a new life of love and freedom from slavery to sin. The Lord Jesus is our
refuge and strength because he makes his home with us (John 15:4) and gives us
the power and help of the Holy Spirit. Do you take refuge in the Lord and allow
him to be the Ruler of your life?
"Lord Jesus, you are my hope and salvation. 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."
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: The cross of Christ as victory, by
Augustine of Hippo, 430-543 A.D.
"It is not difficult, therefore, to see how the
devil was conquered when he, who was slain by him, rose again. But there is
something greater and more profound of comprehension: to see how the devil was
conquered precisely when he was thought to be conquering, namely, when Christ
was crucified. For at that moment the blood of him who had no sin at all, was
shed for the remission of our sins (Matthew 26:28, 1 John 3:5). The devil
deservedly held those whom he had bound by sin to the condition of death. So it
happened that One who was guilty of no sin freed them justly from this
condemnation (Hebrews 2:14). The strong man was conquered by this paradoxical
justice and bound by this chain, that his vessels [booty] might be taken away.
Those vessels which had been vessels of wrath were turned into vessels of mercy
(Romans 9:22-23)." (excerptON THE
TRINITY 13.15.19)
MONDAY, JANUARY 23, MARK 3:22-30
(Hebrews 9:15, 24-28; Psalm 98)
(Hebrews 9:15, 24-28; Psalm 98)
KEY VERSE: "If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand" (v 24).
TO KNOW: When Jesus returned to Capernaum, large crowds gathered, which made it impossible for him and his disciples to take time to eat. Some of Jesus' relatives believed that he had taken leave of his senses and could no longer handle his own affairs. Some scribes from Jerusalem charged him with performing exorcisms by the power of "Beelzebul" (the pagan god Baal of Syria). Jesus described the folly of a divided kingdom. If a nation was torn by civil war, it could not stand. Neither could a family withstand internal strife. Similarly, if Satan worked against himself, his domain would eventually collapse. Jesus was the "strong man" (v 27) who plundered Satan's household. Satan's defenses had been breached, and one mightier that he had arrived. The conquest of Satan had begun. Anyone who declared that Jesus was in league with the king of the demons was guilty of blaspheming the Holy Spirit who was at work in Jesus.
TO LOVE: Am I a source of unity or discord in my family?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, reconcile any divisions in my life.
Optional Memorial of Saint Vincent,
deacon and martyr
Vincent is the earliest Spanish martyr whose name is known to us. Vincent was a deacon who, along with his bishop Valerius, was apprehended during a persecution by the governor of Spain, Dacian. It is said that when they were brought to trial, and that since Valerius had a speech impediment, Vincent spoke for both, and that his fearless manner so angered the governor that Vincent was tortured and killed, though his aged bishop was only exiled. Vincent was submitted to the fiercest of tortures. His flesh was torn by iron hooks; he was placed on a red hot gridiron and roasted; he was thrown into a dungeon strewn with broken pottery—yet he still survived. At last his friends were allowed to visit him. They prepared a bed for him, and as they laid him on it he died.
Day of Prayer for the Legal
Protection of Unborn Children (USA)
In all the dioceses of the United States of America, January 22 (or 23, when the 22nd falls on a Sunday) shall be observed as a particular day of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion, and of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life. The Mass "For Peace and Justice" (no. 22 of the "Masses for Various Needs") should be celebrated with violet vestments as an appropriate liturgical observance for this day. General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 373
Monday 23 January 2017
Mon 23rd. Hebrews 9:15, 24-28. Sing to the
Lord a new song, for he has done marvellous deeds—Ps 97(98):1-6. Mark 3:22-30.
A heart open to the truth.
Jesus was so frustrated; the scribes were
saying he is doing this with the help of the devil! People could see the
goodness of Jesus, but the hardened hearts of the scribes were never open to
the truth. They twisted the good to make it look bad. Despite Jesus pointing
out that a divided kingdom cannot stand, they still persisted in challenging
him.
We still see this today; the divided kingdoms, especially in Middle Eastern countries, in families and even within ourselves.
There is war within us; there is light and darkness, good and evil. It is sin that divides us, because essentially it is a refusal to love. Lord, heal the division within me so that you take complete possession of my soul, then I shall be free, united and at peace.
We still see this today; the divided kingdoms, especially in Middle Eastern countries, in families and even within ourselves.
There is war within us; there is light and darkness, good and evil. It is sin that divides us, because essentially it is a refusal to love. Lord, heal the division within me so that you take complete possession of my soul, then I shall be free, united and at peace.
ST. MARIANNE COPE
St. Marianne Cope was
born in western Germany in 1838. She entered religious life in Syracuse, N.Y.
in 1862. She served as a teacher and principal in several schools in the state
and established two of the first hospitals in the central New York area: St.
Elizabeth Hospital in Utica and St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse.
In 1883, Mother
Marianne’s community was the only one of fifty to respond positively to an
emissary from Hawaii who requested Catholic sisters to provide health care on the
Hawaiian Islands, especially to those with leprosy.
Over the next five
years, St. Marianne set up a system of long-term education and care for her
patients.
She ministered to
patients at Kalaupapa on the island of Molokai. Her time of service overlapped
with the last years of St. Damien of Molokai, a priest who served victims of
Hansen’s disease and himself died of leprosy.
St. Marianne promised
her sisters that none of them would ever contract the disease. To this day, no
sister has. Her care earned her the affectionate title “beloved mother of the
outcasts.”
She died in 1918 and
was beatified on May 14, 2005 and canonized on October 21, 2012, both by Pope
Benedict XVI.
"At a time when
little could be done for those suffering from this terrible disease, Marianne
Cope showed the highest love, courage and enthusiasm," Pope Benedict XVI
said in his homily during the Mass for her canonization. "She is a shining
and energetic example of the best of the tradition of Catholic nursing sisters
and of the spirit of her beloved Saint Francis."
LECTIO DIVINA: MARK 3,22-30
Lectio Divina:
Monday, January 23, 2017
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
All-powerful and ever-living God,
direct your love that is within us,
that our efforts in the name of your Son
may bring mankind to unity and peace.
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.
direct your love that is within us,
that our efforts in the name of your Son
may bring mankind to unity and peace.
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 - Mark 3,22-30
The scribes who had come down from
Jerusalem were saying, 'Beelzebul is in him,' and, 'It is through the prince of
devils that he drives devils out.'
So he called them to him and spoke to them in parables, 'How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot last. And if a household is divided against itself, that household can never last. Now if Satan has rebelled against himself and is divided, he cannot last either -- it is the end of him. But no one can make his way into a strong man's house and plunder his property unless he has first tied up the strong man. Only then can he plunder his house. 'In truth I tell you, all human sins will be forgiven, and all the blasphemies ever uttered; but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, but is guilty of an eternal sin.' This was because they were saying, 'There is an unclean spirit in him.'
So he called them to him and spoke to them in parables, 'How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot last. And if a household is divided against itself, that household can never last. Now if Satan has rebelled against himself and is divided, he cannot last either -- it is the end of him. But no one can make his way into a strong man's house and plunder his property unless he has first tied up the strong man. Only then can he plunder his house. 'In truth I tell you, all human sins will be forgiven, and all the blasphemies ever uttered; but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, but is guilty of an eternal sin.' This was because they were saying, 'There is an unclean spirit in him.'
3) Reflection
• The conflict grows. In the Gospel of Mark there is a progressive sequence.
In the measure in which the Good News advances and people accept it, in the
same measure grows also the resistance on the part of the religious authority.
The conflict began to grow and to influence all the groups of persons. For
example, the relatives of Jesus thought that he was out of his mind. (Mk 3,
20-21), and the Scribes who had come from Jerusalem thought that he was
possessed, that Beelzebul was in him (Mk 3, 22).
• The conflict with the authority. The Scribes slandered against him. They said that Beelzebul was in him and that it was through the prince of devils that he drove out the devils. They had come from Jerusalem, about 120 kilometres distance, to keep an eye on or watch Jesus’ behaviour. They wanted to defend tradition against the novelty that Jesus taught to the people (Mk 7, 1). They thought that his teaching was against the good doctrine. The response given by Jesus had three parts.
- First Part: The comparison with a divided family. Jesus uses the comparison of the divided family and of the divided kingdom to denounce the absurdity of the slander. To say that Jesus casts out or drives out the devils with the help of the prince of the devils is to deny the evidence, what is evident. It is like saying that water is dry, and that the sun is darkness. The doctors of Jerusalem slandered, because they did not know how to explain the benefits worked by Jesus in behalf of the people. They were afraid to lose their leadership.
- Second Part: The comparison of the strong man. Jesus compares the devil to a strong man. Nobody, unless he is a strong person, will be able to take away the house from a strong man, to rob it. Jesus is the strongest of all. And this is why he succeeds to enter the house and to dominate and overcome the strong man. He succeeds in driving out the devils. Jesus wins over the strong man and robs his house, that is, he liberates the persons who were under the power of the evil one. The Prophet Isaiah had already used the same comparison to describe the coming of the Messiah (Is 49, 24-25). Luke adds that the expulsion of the devil is an evident sign of the coming of the Kingdom (Lk 11, 20).
- Third part: The sin against the Holy Spirit. All sins are forgiven, except the sin against the Holy Spirit. Which is the sin against the Holy Spirit? It is to say: “The spirit which impels Jesus to cast out or drive out the devil, comes precisely from the devil!” The one who speaks in this way is incapable to receive pardon. Why? Can the one who covers his eyes guess? He cannot! The one who closes his mouth, can he eat? He cannot. The one who does not close the umbrella of slander, can he receive the rain of pardon? He cannot! Pardon would pass by his side but would not reach him. It is not that God does not want to forgive. God always wants to forgive. But it is the sinner who refuses to receive pardon!
• The conflict with the authority. The Scribes slandered against him. They said that Beelzebul was in him and that it was through the prince of devils that he drove out the devils. They had come from Jerusalem, about 120 kilometres distance, to keep an eye on or watch Jesus’ behaviour. They wanted to defend tradition against the novelty that Jesus taught to the people (Mk 7, 1). They thought that his teaching was against the good doctrine. The response given by Jesus had three parts.
- First Part: The comparison with a divided family. Jesus uses the comparison of the divided family and of the divided kingdom to denounce the absurdity of the slander. To say that Jesus casts out or drives out the devils with the help of the prince of the devils is to deny the evidence, what is evident. It is like saying that water is dry, and that the sun is darkness. The doctors of Jerusalem slandered, because they did not know how to explain the benefits worked by Jesus in behalf of the people. They were afraid to lose their leadership.
- Second Part: The comparison of the strong man. Jesus compares the devil to a strong man. Nobody, unless he is a strong person, will be able to take away the house from a strong man, to rob it. Jesus is the strongest of all. And this is why he succeeds to enter the house and to dominate and overcome the strong man. He succeeds in driving out the devils. Jesus wins over the strong man and robs his house, that is, he liberates the persons who were under the power of the evil one. The Prophet Isaiah had already used the same comparison to describe the coming of the Messiah (Is 49, 24-25). Luke adds that the expulsion of the devil is an evident sign of the coming of the Kingdom (Lk 11, 20).
- Third part: The sin against the Holy Spirit. All sins are forgiven, except the sin against the Holy Spirit. Which is the sin against the Holy Spirit? It is to say: “The spirit which impels Jesus to cast out or drive out the devil, comes precisely from the devil!” The one who speaks in this way is incapable to receive pardon. Why? Can the one who covers his eyes guess? He cannot! The one who closes his mouth, can he eat? He cannot. The one who does not close the umbrella of slander, can he receive the rain of pardon? He cannot! Pardon would pass by his side but would not reach him. It is not that God does not want to forgive. God always wants to forgive. But it is the sinner who refuses to receive pardon!
4) Personal questions
• The religious authorities close themselves up in
themselves and deny the evidence. Has this ever happened to me, that I close
myself in self before the evidence of facts?
• Slander is the arm or weapon of the weak. Have you had experience on this point?
• Slander is the arm or weapon of the weak. Have you had experience on this point?
5) Concluding prayer
The whole wide world has seen the saving
power of our God.
Acclaim Yahweh, all the earth,
burst into shouts of joy! (Ps 98,3-4)
Acclaim Yahweh, all the earth,
burst into shouts of joy! (Ps 98,3-4)
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