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Gospel Reading for March 12, 2026 – Luke 11: 14-23
AUTHOR OF ALL GOODNESS
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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One thing is certain: only goodness can come from God, for he is the AUTHOR OF ALL GOODNESS, and only evil can come from Satan, who is the author of evil. Therefore, when a person does good, we cannot say that it comes from Satan—and likewise, evil cannot come from God.
We are created in the image and likeness of God, as stated in the Book of Genesis (1:26). Because of this, we are created good. Yet being made in God’s image and likeness also means that we are given the freedom to make our own decisions. We are not like robots that can simply be programmed to do whatever our handler commands.
Instead, God has blessed us with the ability to think and discern. We are capable of critical thinking—analyzing situations, evaluating risks, and using reason to determine the best course of action. We can define the real issue before rushing into solutions, recognize our own biases, and manage our emotions so they do not cloud our judgment. We can also learn from past experiences and use them as guides for the future.
Above all, we are blessed with the ability to listen to the voice of the One who is the AUTHOR OF ALL GOODNESS, who speaks to us through the Bible.
As long as we choose to listen to him and follow his guidance, Satan cannot lead us astray. He has no real power over us—unless we allow him to have it.
Lord, remain with us always so that we may never be overcome by the devil!
