"By the Finger of God"

When accused by the crowds of driving out demons by the power of the prince of demons, Beelzebul, Jesus retorts:  "But if it is by the finger of God that I drive our demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you." (Lk 11:16)  The demons have prowled about the world seeking the ruin of souls since the Fall in the Garden.  Yet, the "finger of God" has also been at work to counterbalance the evils wrought by the devil.  St. Katherine Drexel, whose commemoration we observe today, spent her life and family fortune to address the evils of racism and neglect of Native  and Afro-Americans.  She founded schools, including Xavier University in New Orleans, to transform the lives of these very neglected peoples through education.  We too are called in some way, using whatever we have, within us, before us, all around us, to help bring the Kingdom of God to reality in our day.  We might not have millions to disperse, we most likely will not found a religious congregation, but there are many agencies who serve the poor and neglected to which we might donate our time.  The Kiwanis Club of Greater Lawrence sponsors reading programs in some of our local grade schools, where once a week adults read to first and second graders.  It's more than just reading, it turns out to be an opportunity to give love, which is the greatest means of bringing about the Kingdom of God.
Bro. Rene