Reflection: Luke 11:15-26

Friday of the 27^th Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:15—26

This Gospel begins with Jesus once again “driving out a demon.”  Some of the individuals who witnessed Jesus’ power to drive out demons were critical and suspicious of him.  They accused Jesus of driving out demons by the power of Beelzebub.  There also were other unbelievers in the crowd who wanted to test Jesus.  So they asked him to give them a sign from heaven.  However, Jesus knew their thoughts and their motivation.  He realized that they were testing him. 

 

Most likely Jesus’ reply was not the answer they expected or hoped for.  Jesus tells them: “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste.  And house will fall upon house.”  Then he asks: “If Satan is divided against himself, will his kingdom stand?”  Jesus continued, saying: “Some of your members also drive out demons!  From whom do they get their power?”  Jesus’ questioners did not answer him.

 

Ask yourself: what are your demons?  We all have them.  No one is exempt.  When we read the daily newspaper we may read stories of individuals who were driven by demons.  Perhaps they broke into a house and stole several items.  Or perhaps it is the story of a child, woman or man being abused.  Or the headline of the evening news may be on the never-ending fighting in the Middle East. 

 

Our human reality is: we all have our own personal demons.  Ask yourself: what are my demons? Can you name them without pausing?  Or do you have to sit and think about it?  No human being is exempt from demons, not even the saints.  However, the saints testify to us that with God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit in our lives, with the grace they gift us with, we can control our demons.  And hopefully over time with God’s grace, we may be able to “dis-empower” our demons.  Most likely they will not completely disappear from our lives.  However, we will be better able to recognize them and control them, rather than our demons controlling us.

And with our more powerful demons, only the grace of God or Jesus’ grace will do.  Today be attentive to your demons.  Take your demons to Jesus!  He will drive them out!