Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 3, 22-30
The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said of Jesus,
“He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and
“By the prince of demons he drives out demons.”
Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables,
“How can Satan drive out Satan?
If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
And if a house is divided against itself,
that house will not be able to stand.
And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided,
he cannot stand;
that is the end of him.
But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property
unless he first ties up the strong man.
Then he can plunder his house.
Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies
that people utter will be forgiven them.
But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit
will never have forgiveness,
but is guilty of an everlasting sin.”
For they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”
We cannot be divided
1. Summoning them. In response to the comments of the scribes, Jesus summons them and speaks directly to them. He does not fall into their way of talking behind his back or playing the game of “we were told that… we’ve heard that…”. We must follow Jesus’s example and cut off the gossip that is so easy to get caught up in. If you have something to say, say it up front and to the right person, and if there’s someone who talks about you, don’t get involved in his game, but rather with prudence and charity, but also with clarity, approach that person and put things right. Help others to live in truth and live in truth yourself; don’t fall into endless gossip.
2. Division. When division creeps into the home, how difficult life becomes! Because the first thing that is lost is trust. Many families that used to look so united, became a battlefield over the inheritance when a parent died. The same thing happens to us in the parish church. Many people have left the Church because of fights among the members. Division among ourselves destroys many people.
3. The Spirit. Remember that you have a transcendental life, and you are called to live in the presence of God. There are many beautiful things that God has in store for you if you make room for Him. The power of the Spirit is upon you, let yourself be taken by it.
Don’t forget that something good is on the way!
God bless you and be with you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
