Reflection for March 16, Thursday of the Third Week of Lent: Luke 11:14-23

Gospel: Luke 11:14-23

Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed. Some of them 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.”

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Reflection:

Is the devil real?  

The devil is real and he's a pervading influence in our society and in our political system as well. This is the reason why every now and then we get to hear stories of killings, corruption and abuse of authority of political leaders not only in the Philippines but also in other countries. 

In the same vein, the devil is also an insidious presence inside the family. This is the reason why there are separation and infidelity inside the marriage covenant. Who can defeat the influence of the devil in our society’s political system and in our respective families? It’s Jesus and our practice of our faith in Jesus.  

Many of us profess to be believers in Jesus and many of our politicians are graduates of catholic schools. Yet there are plunderers and killers in government nowadays, yet there are many broken families. Why is this so? This is for the reason that many of us are believers in name only. Many of us attend Holy Mass but we don’t live the grace of Holy Mass.  

If only we would allow our faith in Jesus to take root deep into our bones, our country would be progressive. If only we would allow our faith in Jesus to take center stage in our respective families there would also be less broken marriages.  

Let us think about how many times we have betrayed our faith in Jesus. In exchange for the salivating offers of Satan which sooner or later will only destroy us. We therefore have to immediately reject Satan the moment it manifest itself upon us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas