Luke 11:14-23 NRSVue

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.

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Some thoughts on this scripture

Reflection
Lord, let me not be one of the passive ones, who contribute to the triumph of evil by staying on the fence. If I am not on the way, I am in the way.

Reflection
Talk about devils is difficult to bring to prayer. The times of Jesus pitted good against evil in very personalised and dramatic ways. It may not be helpful now to delve too much into what Beelzebul or Satan may mean. But the confrontation of good and evil, and sometimes very strong evil, is still prevalent. Each moment of prayer brings a person in touch with goodness; with the goodness of God created in the heart of every man and woman

Reflection
The people who criticise Jesus focused on the demons not on the one who sought to banish them. Sometimes I become preoccupied by negative details, by failures and disappointments. I ask Jesus to help me during this Lent to realise that he calls me away from any ill that holds me back.

Reflection
As I realise how I need to reform my life during lent, I remember not to depend on my own efforts but learn to rely on Jesus who gathers me together.

Reflection
Even the best of actions are open to misjudgement. I pray that I may seek out the best interpretation of the events around me and ask for the inspiration of God's spirit as I do.

Reflection
I ask God to continue to bless me and to lead me into the wisdom that Jesus had. I pray in respect for all who teach the faith that has come to us from the apostles.