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
PsalmPS 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.
AlleluiaJN 12:31B-32
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
The prince of this world will now be cast out,
and when I am lifted up from the earth
I will draw all to myself, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The prince of this world will now be cast out,
and when I am lifted up from the earth
I will draw all to myself, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelLK 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', '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.
Jesus has power to cast out the Deceiver and set us
free
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 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.
Whose kingdom do you follow and serve?
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.
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.
God and his Word is the source of our protection and
security
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. If we attempt to leave it vacant or to fill it with something else which is not of God, we will end up being in a worse state in the end.
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. If we attempt to leave it vacant or to fill it with something else which is not of God, 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 minds and hearts 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 the Lord Jesus or against him, for the kingdom
of God or against it. We cannot serve two kingdoms opposed to each another.
There are ultimately only two universal kingdoms which stand in opposition to
one another - the kingdom of God - his kingdom of light and truth - and the
kingdom of darkness - which is opposed to God's truth and justice and which is
dominated by Satan's lies and deception. If we disobey God's word, we open to
door to the power of sin and the deception of Satan in our personal
lives.
Is Jesus the Lord of your mind, heart, and home?
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). The Scriptures remind us that God is our refuge and his angels stand guard over us:
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). The Scriptures remind us that God is our refuge and his angels stand guard over us:
"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."
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Jesus has conquered Satan, by Cyril of
Alexandria (376-444 AD)
"[Jesus] has conquered the ruler of this world.
Having, so to speak, hamstrung him and stripped him of the power he possessed,
he has given him over for a prey to his followers. He says, 'The strong man,
being armed, guards his house; all his goods are in peace. But when one who is
stronger than he shall come on him and overcome him, he takes away all his
armor wherein he trusted and divides his spoil.' This is a plain demonstration
and type of the matter depicted after the manner of human affairs... Before the
coming of the Savior, he was in great power, driving and shutting up in his own
stall flocks that were not his own but belonging to God over all. He was like
some voracious and most insolent robber. Since the Word of God who is above
all, the Giver of all might and Lord of powers attacked him, having become man,
all his goods have been plundered and his spoil divided. Those of old who had
been ensnared by him into ungodliness and error have been called by the holy
apostles to the acknowledgment of the truth and been brought near to God the
Father by faith in his Son." (excerpt
from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 81)
FRIDAY,
OCTOBER 12, LUKE 11:15-26
Weekday
(Galatians 3:7-14; Psalm 111)
Weekday
(Galatians 3:7-14; 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).
TO KNOW: When Jesus exorcised a man who was mute, he was accused of working miracles by the power of Beelzebul (Satan, “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 him. Jesus asked the people whether the Jewish exorcists were acting in the name of God or Satan when they drove out evil. If the people 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 before.
TO LOVE: Do I do my best to guard my household from evil?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, heal all the weak and sinful areas of my life.
Friday 12
October 2018
Galatians 3:7-14. Psalm 110(111):1-6. Luke 11:15-26.
The Lord will remember his covenant for ever – Psalm
110(111):1-6.
‘It is people of faith who receive the same blessing as
Abraham.’
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.
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. Let us renew our enthusiasm to spend time in the presence of the Lord.
Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos
Saint of the Day for October 12
(January 11, 1819 – October 4, 1867)
 |
| Shrine of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, St Magn Basilica, Füssen, Germany | photo by Myke Rosenthal |
Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos’ Story
Zeal as a preacher and a confessor led Father Seelos to works of
compassion as well.
Born in southern Bavaria, he studied philosophy and theology in
Munich. On hearing about the work of the Redemptorists among German-speaking
Catholics in the United States, he came to this country in 1843. Ordained at
the end of 1844, he was assigned for six years to St. Philomena’s Parish in
Pittsburgh as an assistant to Saint John Neumann. The next three years
Father Seelos was superior in the same community, and began his service as
novice master.
Several years in parish ministry in Maryland followed, along
with responsibility for training Redemptorist students. During the Civil War
Fr. Seelos went to Washington, D.C., and appealed to President Lincoln that
those students not be drafted for military service, although eventually some
were.
For several years, he preached in English and in German
throughout the Midwest and in the Mid-Atlantic states. Assigned to St. Mary of
the Assumption Church community in New Orleans, Fr. Seelos served his
Redemptorist confreres and parishioners with great zeal. In 1867, he died of
yellow fever, having contracted that disease while visiting the sick. He was
beatified in 2000. The Liturgical Feast of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos
is October 5.
Reflection
Father Seelos worked in many different places but always with
the same zeal: to help people know God’s love and compassion. He preached about
the works of mercy and then engaged in them, even risking his own health.
LECTIO DIVINA: LUKE 11:15-26
Lectio Divina:
Friday, October 12, 2018
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 performed
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, in front of 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 a sign as evident as 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 confront 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 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
magicians 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, 16-19).
• Luke 11, 24-26: The second fall is
worse than the first one. At the time of Luke in the 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 about 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 center of the Good News of the
Kingdom. By means of the expulsion Jesus restored or recovered persons to
themselves. He restored their judgment and their conscience (Mk 5, 15).
Especially in the Gospel of Mark, from beginning until the end, with words
which are almost 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: "Jesus overcame the power of
evil, Satan, who causes so much fear to people, He dominated him, seized him,
conquered him, cast him out, eliminated him, exterminated him, destroyed him
and killed him!" By this the Gospel wants to tell us: "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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