GOSPEL READING:
Luke 11:14-2314 Now he was casting out a demon that was dumb; when the demon had gone out, the dumb man spoke, and the people marveled. 15 But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons"; 16 while others, to test him, sought from him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. 18 And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. 19 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. 20 But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace; 22 but when one stronger than he assails him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoil. 23 He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.
SCRIPTURE READING:
Jeremiah 7:23-2823 But this command I gave them, `Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people; and walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.' 24 But they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward. 25 From the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt to this day, I have persistently sent all my servants the prophets to them, day after day; 26 yet they did not listen to me, or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck. They did worse than their fathers. 27 "So you shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you. You shall call to them, but they will not answer you. 28 And you shall say to them, `This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the LORD their God, and did not accept discipline; truth has perished; it is cut off from their lips.
Meditation: What is the best protection which brings
lasting security to our lives? Scripture tells us that true peace
and security come to those who trust in God and obey his word.
"Obey my voice and walk in all the way that I command you, that it
may be well with you" (Jeremiah 7:23). The struggle between
choosing to do good or evil, yielding to my will or God's will,
God's way or my way, cannot be won by human strength or will-power
alone. Our enemy, the devil, conspires with the "world" (whatever
is opposed to God and his truth and righteousness) and our "flesh"
(whatever inclines us to yield to hurtful desires and wrongdoing),
to draw us away from the peace, joy, and security which God
provides for those who put their trust in him.
Peter the Apostles tells us, Our adversary, the devil prowls
the earth seeking the ruin of souls (1 Peter 5:8-9). The
devil is opposed to God and he seeks to draw us away from God's
plan and will for our lives. God offers us grace (his merciful
help and strength) and protection (from Satan's lies and
deception) if we are willing to obey his word and resist the
devil's lies and temptations. 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). The Lord offers us the peace and security of his kingdom
which lasts forever and which no other power can overcome.
God's kingdom brings healing and freedom from the
destructive forces of sin and Satan
Jesus' numerous exorcisms brought freedom to many who were
troubled and oppressed by the work of evil spirits. Jesus himself
encountered personal opposition and battled with Satan when he was
put to the test in the wilderness just before his public ministry
(Luke 4:1-13). 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 he get the power and authority
to release individuals from Satan's power? 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 among the Jews 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 he 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. 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.
Is Jesus the Master of your life?
Jesus makes it clear that there are no neutral parties. We are
either for Jesus or against him, for the kingdom of God or against
it. There are two kingdoms in opposition to one another - the
kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness under the rule of
Satan. If we disobey God's word, we open to door to the power of
sin and Satan in our lives. If you want to live in freedom from
sin and Satan, then your "house" - your life and possessions (all
that you rely upon for livelihood, peace, and security) - must be
occupied by Jesus where he is enthroned as Lord and Savior. Is the
Lord Jesus the Master of your home, heart, mind, and will?
O Lord, our God, grant us, we beseech you, patience in troubles, humility in comforts, constancy in temptations, and victory over all our spiritual foes. Grant us sorrow for our sins, thankfulness for your benefits, fear of your judgment, love of your mercies, and mindfulness of your presence; now and for ever. (Prayer by John Cosin)
Psalm 95:1-2,6-9
1 O come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
6 O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!
7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. O that today you would hearken to his voice!
8 Harden not your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,
9 when your fathers tested me, and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: God's help for our complete conversion, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"When we transform our old life and give our spirit a new image,
we find it very hard and tiring to turn back from the darkness of
earthly passions to the serene calm of the divine light. We must
ask God to help us that a complete conversion may be brought about
in us." (excerpt from Commentary on Psalm 6,5)
