13 October, 2023 | Friday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

 Gospel Lk 11:15-26




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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.”


Reflections:

Those who oppose God’s ways fail to pray as Jesus taught. Rather than asking with trusting confidence, they seek a visible sign. The fact that Jesus performs amazing works is evident to all. Some doubt   his power.  The mighty acts of Jesus give evidence of the arrival of the kingdom. Those who choose to follow Jesus join with him in bringing others to the Kingdom. Those who turn away from him, influence others to turn away from him, scattering the harvest and working against the salvation that God desires for all. When we experience God’s work within us we must follow it up with faith, allowing God’s Spirit to fill us.

Activity: 

 Invite God to occupy your life so as to seek the grace to be doers of the Word .


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