Reflection on Today’s Gospel – Lk 11:15-26
Reflection on Today’s Gospel – Lk 11:15-26
"By the power of Beelzebub, the prince of demons, he drives out demons." This is one of the many accusations that the enemies have made against the Lord Jesus. " We found this man misleading our people; he opposes the payment of taxes " (cf. Lk 23: 2), they accused him innocently before Pilate. " If he were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you” (cf. Jn 18:30) Pilate's enemies urged that he should condemn Jesus to crucifixion. The Son of God loved us to the end, he gave his life for us, and we repaid him with slanderous accusations.
On the example of these accusations against the Lord Jesus, one can clearly see the method of the devil's actions in order to lead us away from God. The devil likes confusion. He would gladly abolish all boundaries between good and evil, between truth and lies, between love and deception, between marital chastity and debauchery, between honesty and exploitation of others. The devil's element is chaos. He knows that fishing is easiest in dirty water.
God loves transparency. For if we clearly distinguish good from evil, and truth from lies, then evil is seen in all its ugliness. Then, even if someone falls because of human weakness, he will clearly know that he has sinned and that he must convert.
It is this transparency that the devil wants to blur. That is why he makes us suspect whether any good is real and disinterested at all - he sees everywhere hypocrisy, dirty self-interest, manipulation, deception. His point is that no one should believe anyone.
At the same time, there is no evil that the devil would not try to justify. According to him, the principles of economics demand an allegedly hard heart for the poor, and in turn mercy demands help a woman get an abortion. Various scholars theorize that violence in movies defuses human aggression. One time, I heard the really devilish opinion of some psychologist that if a child is unhappy because of his parents' divorce, it is his choice and that he wants to make his parents feel guilty.
Well, it is worth remembering from time to time that in his confusion the devil once went as far as accusing the Son of God of collaborating with Beelzebub.
The Lord Jesus Himself announced that His Church would face similar accusations and slander. "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor is his master's servant ... If they call the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more do they call his household so" (Mt 10:24).
One more thought
" Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. (cf. Lk 11:23)" Then John said in reply, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow in our company.” Jesus said to him, “Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.” (cf. Lk 9:49-50)
Jesus says that when it comes to Himself, if you are not with Him, you are against Him. But when it comes to the disciples, there is no such exclusivity. Whoever is not against you is with you. Only the relationship with Jesus is exclusive in human life. In the case with Jesus it is like this: you are with him, or and if you are not - you are against. But when it comes to specific communities, such as ours, for example the Church of Los Angeles, whoever is not against us is with us. We have no right to make a measure of ourselves: me and only me. Only Jesus has the right to say: Me and only me. Our function is to lead man to Him and lead him so that man knows: this is this essential relationship, this is what changes everything - I will be with Him or I will be against Him. "
The voice of Pope Francis
Jesus says: Whoever is not with me is against me (Lk 11:23). But then what about the possibility of a compromise? There is no question of a little for and a little against. Either you are on the way of love or you are on the way of hypocrisy. Either you allow yourself to be loved by God's mercy, or you do what you want, as you please, and your heart grows more and more hardened. Whoever is not with me is against me - there is no third way. No compromise! Either you are holy, or you go another way. Whoever does not collect with Me, scatters ... So, he wastes, destroys. He is a spoiled corrupt man who bribes others. (Pope Francis, Bog szuka na marginesie, p.120, Polish Edition)
Until Tomorrow
fr. george