Jesus Drives Out Demons

March 11, 2021, Thursday
Thursday of the Third Week of Lent (Violet)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
RDGS: JER 7:23-28/ PS 95:1-2. 6-7. 8-9
GOSPEL: LK 11:14-23


Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute,
and when the demon had gone out,
the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed.
Some of them said, "By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons,
he drives out demons."
Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven.
But he knew their thoughts and said to them,
"Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste
and house will fall against house.
And if Satan is divided against himself, 
how will his kingdom stand?
For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons.
If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul,
by whom do your own people drive them out?
Therefore they will be your judges.
But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons,
then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.
When a strong man fully armed guards his palace,
his possessions are safe.
But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him,
he takes away the armor on which he relied
and distributes the spoils.
Whoever is not with me is against me,
and whoever does not gather with me scatters."


GOSPEL REFLECTION:

Jesus’ mission is to overcome evil in all its forms. This is an extraordinary task: it will cost him his life, but we believe that he will succeed. The darkness cannot overcome the light (Saint John 1:5). I thank God for this. It gives me hope to work for our world.

Different battles take place inside us all: the kingdom of the heart can be divided into the good we want to do, and the not-so-good or evil that gets into us also. Prayer is our time of nourishing the good in us, so that goodness wins over evil.


PRAYER:

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. 

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