Link to the DEACON5 website: https://deacon5.com/
The Holy Gospel according to Luke (11:15-26).
When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd 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.
“When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, ‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’ But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, and the last condition of that man is worse than the first.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Reflection: Today’s Gospel tells us about Jesus driving out a demon and the people questioning Him by what “power” does He drive out the demon. Jesus ultimately tells them that it is by the power of God that He does this. Today, I want to focus on the people asking Jesus for a sign from heaven. In other parts of the Scriptures, we read how people want a “sign” from Jesus to prove who he is. Even though Jesus had just healed someone, they still did not believe and demand a sign. In today’s Gospel, we read that again. “Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven.” I think if we are honest with ourselves, all of us have asked for a “sign” from our Lord. But we are different than those in today’s Gospel. We do not ask for a sign to test Him. Whenever we pray for God’s guidance, pray for a family member or a friend, or for ourselves, we ask for a sign, or just a little hint, that God heard and answered our prayer.
In times of uncertainty, we often ask for signs from our Lord because we want to be assured that we are on the right path, or that God is with us. We want a sign because we are human beings, and we tend to seek tangible evidence that God heard our prayer. Seeking a sign does not necessarily mean a lack of faith. Instead of seeking an outward sign, we are called to trust in God, knowing that God is always with us even when we do not see Him. Our faith will grow in trusting, not seeking.
Today is also the memorial for St. John XXIII, pope. He was elected pope in 1958 after serving as a military chaplain and Vatican diplomat. As pope, he convened the 2nd Vatican Council on October 11, 1962. His last encyclical, Pacem in Terris, Peace on Earth, challenges us to take up the work of “establishing universal peace in truth, justice, charity, and liberty.” The pope was known to have a sense of humor. In reply to a reporter who asked, “How many people work in the Vatican?”, he reportedly said: “About half of them.” He died in 1963 before the end of the Council.
Action for the Day: During our prayer, ask for the grace to trust in God more than seeking a sign. The more we trust in God, the more our faith will grow.
Click below for the audio reflection:
Link to the DEACON5 website: https://deacon5.com/
