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Gospel Reading for October 11, 2024 – Luke 11: 15-26
JEALOUSY
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.”
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It is very absurd for someone to wipe himself out. It is inherent in us to have a sense of preservation. Persons who achieve a lot of “great things” are in Guinness World Records. Our heroes are preserved in our history books. The goal of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, is to increase their numbers. And, why would the Son of God need the powers of Beelzebul if indeed he has?
Sometimes, we are like those people in the crowd. When we see someone doing well or doing good, we tend to discredit the person. Most of the time, it is JEALOUSY that provokes us to do such a thing.
Lord Jesus, teach us to appreciate and support the good deeds of others, and likewise do good deeds to others too!
