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Gospel Reading for October 19, 2024 – Luke 12: 8-12
ONLY GOD’S SPIRIT
Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.
“Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.”
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Jesus spoke about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, when in Matthew 12: 23-24, he cast out a demon from a man who was both blind and mute, then – “All the people were astonished and said, ‘Could this be the Son of David?’ But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, ‘It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.’”
It is very clear that it was out of their spite against Jesus’ teachings, or most likely, jealousy that made them accuse Jesus of this. Even granting that they did not believe Jesus was the Messiah, they did not want to recognize that ONLY GOD’S SPIRIT has the ultimate power over evil. Such accusation was enough proof that although they boasted of being the experts on the Mosaic Law, their faith in God was so IMPOVERISHED and they did not qualify to be spiritual leaders as they claimed to be.
What a tragedy if as Christians, we commit the unforgivable sin of not believing in God’s power over us when evil forces try to rule over us, or of believing that Beelzebul will take over the world and all of God’s creation someday, or of believing that by the collective evil and immoral acts of people in the world, God will be defeated by the devil.
Let us be inspired by this beautiful song written by Eric Levi, I BELIEVE –
One day I’ll hear
the laugh of children
in a world where war
has been banned.
One day I’ll see
men of all colours
sharing worlds of
love and devotion.
Stand up and feel
the Holy Spirit
find the power of your faith.
Open you heart
to those who need you
in the name of love and devotion.
Yes I believe!
I believe in the people
of all nations
to join and care
for love.
I believe in a world
where light will guide us,
and giving our love
WE’LL MAKE HEAVEN ON EARTH.
