October 09, 2015 Friday
27th Week
in Ordinary Time
1st reading: Joel 1.13-15; 2.1-2
Gospel: Luke 11:15-26
As Jesus was casting out a devil some of the people said, “He drives out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the chief of the demons.” So 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 fellow members drive out demons? They will be your judges, then.“But suppose 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 the strong and armed man guards his house, his goods are safe. But when a stronger one 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.“When the evil spirit goes out of a person, it wanders through dry lands looking for a resting place. And finding none, it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ When it comes, it finds the house swept and everything in order. Then it goes to fetch se-ven other spirits even worse than itself. They move in and settle there, so that the last state of that person is worse than the first.”
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
Jesus’ argument in today’s Gospel reading was premised on the presumption that Satan’s kingdom has remained strong. Experience confirms Jesus was correct. So it is never wise to give Satan any chance in our lives.
The Visayan translation of devil ascribes to it some goodness beneficial to the soul. The Visayan word “pa-nulay” (devil) is rooted in the noun “sulay” (test) which is a portmanteau of “sukod” (measure) and “budlay” (dedication to a particular undertaking). “Panulay” (devil), therefore, is one who measures our dedication to God in faith. But it is very dangerous to give the devil the benefit of the doubt. Give the devil the first base and he is sure winner. If you give him an arm he will take your whole body, and with it your soul.
The devil has led lenient people experimenting on their faith to untold perils. He is not the best tool to calibrate our spiritual strength because he is so cunning. The historical Jesus is no longer in our midst to cast out demons for us. Flight is still the best way to put up a fight. – Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM. Email: dan.delosangeles@gmail.com. Website: www.frdan.org.
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