Mark 3:22-30

2 Samuel 5:1-7, 10

Psalm 89:20, 21-22, 25-26

Mark 3:22-30

The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said of Jesus,

"He is possessed by Beelzebul," and

"By the prince of demons he drives out demons."

Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables,

"How can Satan drive out Satan?

If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

And if a house is divided against itself,

that house will not be able to stand.

And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided,

he cannot stand;

that is the end of him.

But no one can enter a strong man's house to plunder his property

unless he first ties up the strong man.

Then he can plunder his house.  

Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies

that people utter will be forgiven them.

But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit

will never have forgiveness,

but is guilty of an everlasting sin."

For they had said, "He has an unclean spirit."

Opening Prayer: Lord, your Gospel contains a warning against committing an everlasting sin. You went about doing good and fulfilling your Father’s will and yet the scribes accused you of working for the devil. You went about restoring people to health and bringing them salvation, and yet the leaders of Israel plotted your death. Help me to persevere in doing good and being an agent of your mercy in the world.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Reign of King David: When Saul killed himself, Saul’s general, Abner, placed Saul’s son, Ishbaal, on the throne of the northern tribes. The northern coalition, though, fell apart when Joab killed Abner and Ishbaal was assassinated by his own commanders. After the death of Ishbaal, the tribes and elders of Israel went to David in Hebron, made a covenant with him, and anointed him as their king. Once he was made king of all twelve tribes, David captured the city of Jerusalem and the fortress of Zion and moved his capital there. The capture of Jerusalem from the Jebusites signals the completion of the conquest initiated by Joshua centuries before.

2. David as a Priest-King: The city of Jerusalem also recalls the figure of Melchizedek, the priest-king of Salem. Psalm 76 identifies ancient Salem with Zion, and, therefore, with Jerusalem. David is a new Melchizedek and his royal sons will be priestly kings. David was thirty years old when he became king. This is a veiled reference to the priestly dimension of David’s reign, as priests were to be no younger than thirty years of age at the start of their service (see Numbers 4:3). The age of David also looks forward to Jesus, who was thirty years old when he began his work (Luke 3:23).

3. The Reign of Jesus, the Son of David: Jesus began his public ministry announcing the arrival of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:15) and immediately set to work dismantling the reign of Satan (Mark 1:21-28). He pointed to himself and his disciples as superior to David and his companions (Mark 2:23-28). He appointed the apostles as ministers of the new Israel (Mark 3:13-19). In today’s Gospel, responds to the accusation of the scribes from Jerusalem that he is working in league with the devil. The scribes have hardened their hearts and refuse to accept Jesus and his divine work. They can’t deny that Jesus is doing amazing things, so they say that it is through demonic power and not divine power that Jesus does these things. Jesus easily unveils their faulty logic and asks: Why would Satan work against himself and actively destroy his own evil kingdom? Jesus also puts the scribes on guard, warning them that by refusing to repent and denying God’s mercy they are close to committing the only unforgivable sin.

Conversing with Christ: Lord, you crowned and anointed David as king over your people. You crowned and anointed me at my baptism. Be with me and strengthen me. Your faithfulness and mercy are always with me.

Resolution: The Kingdom Jesus inaugurates is one of mercy. No matter how serious and how many our sins are, God is ready to forgive us. The only sin that will not be forgiven is the obstinate refusal of God’s mercy and forgiveness.