Thursday of Week 3 of Lent – Gospel
14Now he was casting out a demon that was mute; when the demon had gone out, the one who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed. 15But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” 16Others, to test him, kept demanding from him a sign from heaven. 17But he knew what they were thinking and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. 18If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?—for you say that I cast out the demons by Beelzebul. 19Now if I cast out the demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 20But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21When a strong man, fully armed, guards his castle, his property is safe. 22But when one stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his plunder. 23Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
Commentary on Luke 11:14-23
Amazement in the Gospel does not always lead to faith. People are amazed to see Jesus liberate a man who was unable to speak from the evil power that prevented him from speaking. But rather than seeing here the clear intervention of God’s saving power, they see in Jesus the power of another evil spirit. More than that, they ask Jesus to give some special sign of his authority and identity.
Jesus shows up the contradictions of their position. First, he has just given a powerful sign, but they choose not to see it as such. Secondly, a divided household can only collapse:
If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?
If the answer is by God’s power (the only other alternative), why should they make an exception of Jesus? And, if it is by God’s power that Jesus liberates people from evil powers, then they should know that God’s Kingdom—God’s reign—has come among them. Far from being an accomplice, Jesus is the “strong man” who is driving Satan from all his strongholds.
Both readings today urge us to listen carefully to God speaking to us in our lives. Let us not be blinded by prejudice of any kind, which might prevent us from recognising the signs, the voice, or the hand of God in people and experiences we encounter during any ordinary day.
There are many times when we write off people and events, and as such fail to realise that God is saying something important to us through them. People may be saints or sinners—it does not matter. God can and does use any channel to reach us.
