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Gospel Reading for March 27, 2025 – Luke 11: 14-23
ABSURD
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.”
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How ABSURD it was that Jesus’ driving out a demon became the subject of discussion when they should instead be rejoicing because the possessed man was finally free from the demon and was now able to speak. More ABSURD was that some were asking for signs from heaven, when the sign from heaven happened right before their very eyes. Most ABSURD was to think that the demon expelled itself from the man through Jesus. The demon would want permanent residency.
There are lots of us who have this kind of attitude. Instead of seeing the good, we see the bad. Instead of seeing what’s beautiful, we see the ugly. Instead of seeing plus, we see minus. With limited time in this world, it is truly ABSURD to waste time seeing things more negatively than positively.
Lord Jesus, keep us free from the snares of the devil!
