Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary
Today’s Reflection
Gospel: Lk 11:15-26
October 7, 2022 | Friday
Yet some of them said, “He drives out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the chief of the demons.” Others wanted to put him to the test, by asking him for a heavenly sign. But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them, “Every nation divided by civil war is on the road to ruin, and will fall. If Satan also is divided, his empire is coming to an end. How can you say that I drive out demons by calling upon Beelzebul? If I drive them out by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive out demons? They will be your judges, then. But if I drive out demons by the finger of God; would not this mean that the kingdom of God has come upon you? As long as a man, strong and well-armed, guards his house, his goods are safe. But when a stronger man attacks and overcomes him, the challenger takes away all the weapons he relied on, and disposes of his spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me, scatters. When the evil spirit goes out of a person, it wanders through dry lands, looking for a resting place; and finding none, it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ When it comes, it finds the house swept and everything in order. Then it goes to fetch seven other spirits, even worse than itself. They move in and settle there, so that the last state of that person is worse than the first.”
Today’s Reflection:
The Lord’s statement “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters” (v. 23) serves to remind us that when person decides against Jesus, he will fall into pieces for everything that he or she does will never prosper. If, on the other hand, one chooses Jesus, that person will live in the loving power of God, which is at work in him or her. To choose Jesus simply means to acknowledge that He is a personification of the Kingdom of God on earth. To choose Jesus also means being willing to bear witness to him no matter how hard is the situation we find ourselves in. To choose Jesus means putting his teachings into practice and imitating his example. In other words, it means remaining steadfast in our faith in him. /Vulnerasti, 2022
