Gospel: Lk 11:14-23
One day, Jesus was driving out a demon, which was mute. When the demon had been driven out, the mute person could speak, and the people were amazed. Yet some of them said, “He drives out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the chief of the demons.” Others wanted to put him to the test, by asking him for a heavenly sign. But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them, “Every nation divided by civil war is on the road to ruin, and will fall. If Satan also is divided, his empire is coming to an end. How can you say that I drive out demons by calling upon Beelzebul? If I drive them out by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive out demons? They will be your judges, then. But if I drive out demons by the finger of God; would not this mean that the kingdom of God has come upon you? As long as a man, strong and well-armed, guards his house, his goods are safe. But when a stronger man attacks and overcomes him, the challenger takes away all the weapons he relied on, and disposes of his spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me, scatters.Reflections
TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE
HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS
In the Scriptures, we read of incidents of God calling specific persons. Today, God speaks more to our hearts. But the call is no less real. Many religious men and women have heard this call in their hearts and have responded. There might be other calls apart from a call to a way of life. It might be an inspiration to leave an addiction, to repulse a temptation, to come back to righteousness, to help someone in need, to forgive someone, to ask forgiveness from someone, etc. The call is often so quiet that one can actually not hear it because of the noisy distractions one surrounds oneself with. It is a moment of grace and that is why we are exhorted “not to harden our hearts”. Instead we keep the ear of our hearts always open to such unexpected invitations. This requires a continuous state of MINDFULNESS, living each moment in watchful awareness. SPEAK LORD, YOUR SERVANT IS LISTENING!© Copyright Bible Diary 2018