Luke 11:15-26

Galatians 3:7-14

Psalm 111:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6

Luke 11:15-26

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.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, protect me from the attacks of the Evil One. Do not allow me to succumb to temptation, fall into despair, or stray from your ways. I belong to you and your Kingdom. I will fight the good fight and, with your grace, finish the race.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Finger and Reign of God: As Jesus journeys to Jerusalem with his disciples, he faces increasing opposition and rejection. In today’s Gospel, two objections are raised. On the one hand, some people begin to say that Jesus is in league with the devil and using demonic power to cast out demons. On the other, some people want to test or tempt Jesus and demand he perform a sign from heaven. Jesus answers the first objection in today’s Gospel (Luke 11:17-26). We will hear his response to the second objection on Monday (Luke 11:29-32). Today, Jesus simply points out that the logic of the first objection is unsound. Why would the devil, called here “Beelzebul,” try to destroy his own kingdom? Jesus is not exorcizing demons because he belongs to the kingdom of the devil. No, he is working with God, acts by the power of God, and is establishing the reign of God here on earth! Jesus refers to the “finger of God,” and, in so doing, recalls the works of Moses and Aaron before the Exodus of the people from Egypt (Exodus 8:15). In like manner, Jesus is performing mighty works and signs “by the finger of God” before his own Exodus in Jerusalem (Luke 9:31).

2. The Unclean Spirit Brings Back Seven Other Spirits: Jesus warns that when an unclean spirit is driven out, this does not mean that it won’t return. Consider a person who has recently overcome an addiction – for example, to alcohol, drugs, gambling, or pornography. The effects of the addiction often remain. Although the body and mind heal in a month or so from the addiction, it is easy for the person to fall again. When this happens, the person can succumb to pessimism and depression, thinking that they will never be better or conquer their addiction. Jesus, then, gives wise counsel. He tells us that his grace is powerful and that the unclean spirit can be driven out. If we work with his grace and love, we can defend our house – our spiritual soul – from even more powerful attacks and temptations in the future. 

3. Abraham was Justified by Faith: In his Letter to the Galatians, Paul comes to his central point that we are justified, not by the works of the Law of Moses, but by faith. He quotes Genesis, which states that Abraham believed and was made righteous (Galatians 3:6; Genesis 15:6). Paul alludes to the fact that Abraham was said to be justified by his faith many years before his circumcision. We are sons of Abraham not by the external act of being circumcised but by being “men of faith.” God promised to bless all nations through Abraham, and this blessing is bestowed through faith in Jesus Christ. To further bolster his argument, Paul also cites Habakkuk 2:4, which says that the righteous shall live through faith. Faith and not the works of the law are the foundation of our justification. By dying on the Cross, Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the Old Law. “For Paul, Jesus bore the curses pressing down upon Israel when he mounted the Cross (Gal 3:10). This act enabled the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant, held back for centuries because of the curse, to pour forth upon Israel and the world as a result (3:14; CCC, 580)” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: New Testament, 336).

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you are my King. Through your passion and death, you have inaugurated the Kingdom of your Father and now reign from heaven at the Father’s right hand. Reign in me and keep me in a right relationship with you and the Father through your Holy Spirit.

Living the Word of God: Have I ever fallen into sinful addictions? If so, how did I overcome them? If I am still trapped by them, what are some steps I can take today to break free from them?