For or Against

 

 Luke 11: 14-23

Jesus and Beelzebul

¹⁴ Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. ¹⁵ But some of them said, “By Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.” ¹⁶ Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven.

¹⁷ Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. ¹⁸ If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. ¹⁹ Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. ²⁰ But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

²¹ “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. ²² But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder.

²³ “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

Jesus makes it clear:  "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." (Lk 11: 23) We cannot serve nor follow Jesus only halfheartedly; we need to take a stand, for or against. As we pursue our Lenten program of prayer, penance and almsgiving, let us remember that we are aiming at a change of attitude, a change of heart, the deepening of of our relationship with God. Half-way measures are not enough, God deserves, wants, all. Can we give it to him? That's what Lent is for.  Let's not hold back.

Bro. Rene

Lord Jesus, we know all too well what it is to be a house divided—we are often confronted with our own powerlessness and limitations. Please silence the selfish voices within us, or at least help us to not act on them. We so much want to be one with you. Amen.

 Rev. Herbert Yost, C.S.C.