16 March, 2023 | Thursday of the Third Week of Lent

 Gospel : Lk 11:14-23

Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute,

and when the demon had gone out,

the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed.

Some of them 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 armour on which he relied

and distributes the spoils.

Whoever is not with me is against me,

and whoever does not gather with me scatters."

Reflections:

In the gospel we see that some people misunderstand the healing work of Jesus, declaring that he heals by means of Satan's power. They refuse to recognize that God was powerfully at work in the life of Jesus. We can all be blind to the working of God among us. We often fail to appreciate the good that people are doing and tend to interpret it wrongly. The Lord is inviting us today to acknowledge the good that others are doing and to celebrate and support it. 

Activity: 

Decide not be blinded by prejudice of any kind which might prevent you from recognizing the signs or the voice or the hand of God in persons and experiences we encounter in our day today life