Reflection for Monday January 26 Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, Bishops: Mark 3:22-30

Gospel: 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.

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Reflection:

What is the antidote to evil, and who can truly defeat the devil? It is our faith in Jesus. Only Jesus can overcome the darkness that seeks to claim our hearts.

In the past, we may have thought that the devil only appeared through evil possession. But today, we see that he comes in many forms—through greed, lust, envy, the unceasing demands of modern life, and attachments that steal our hearts from God. The devil is subtle, and he works in ways that are often hidden from our eyes.

Yet, the same Jesus who defeated the devil in the Gospel remains with us. He is unchanging, yesterday, today, and forever. His power to conquer evil is alive and present in our lives, as it was in the stories of old. The question is: do we allow Him to dwell in us? Do we make room for Him in the midst of our busy, gadget-filled lives?

We are called to invite Jesus into every moment of our lives. When we make time for Him—through reading His Word, attending Holy Mass, and setting aside moments of personal prayer—we strengthen our hearts and leave no room for the devil to take hold. Jesus becomes our shield, our guide, and our constant companion.

Let us pause and ask ourselves: even for just a minute each day, do we truly give time to Jesus? Do we open our hearts so fully that His light can dispel every shadow within us?

Today, let us make the choice to dwell in Him, to let His Spirit shape our thoughts, words, and actions. For in doing so, we do not only resist the devil—we embrace the abundant life that Jesus promises.

Are we willing, right now, to make Jesus the center of our lives, allowing Him to guide us and conquer every darkness within us? — Marino J. Dasmarinas