Lk 11: 14-23

Now he was casting out a demon that was mute; when the demon had gone out, the one who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed. But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” Others, to test him, kept demanding from him a sign from heaven. But he knew what they were thinking and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself becomes a desert, and house falls on house. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? —for you say that I cast out the demons by Beelzebul.

Now if I cast out the demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his castle, his property is safe. But when one stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his plunder. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved http://www.usccb.org/bible/approved-translations

Followers and Witnesses

In this Gospel we are shown the great power of God.  Jesus drives out the demon from the mute man, and he is immediately questioned and accused. The people say he drives out the demons by the power of the prince of demons.  Jesus ever so powerfully responds, “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?” He also says, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house.”

Jesus here is calling us to faith, faith in the power of God. In order to fully call ourselves Christians, followers and witnesses to Christ, we need to be absolutely invested in Christ.  We are called from our ways of complacency, to have a change of heart. Jesus is beckoning us to live fully as His follower, to love one another, to be Christ in the world. Let us ask Jesus for the gift of faith so that we might be true witnesses to Christ.

—Jack Lupica, a senior at Saint Ignatius High School, Cleveland, OH.

Prayer

“Today’s world stands in great need of witnesses, not so much of teachers but rather of witnesses. It’s not so much about speaking, but rather speaking with our whole lives.”

—Pope Francis, May 18, 2013.