Jeremiah 7:23-28
Luke 11:14-23
‘Every kingdom divided against itself is heading for ruin, and a household divided against itself collapses.’
The onlookers in today’s Gospel challenge the very nature of Jesus’ power to work miracles. Jesus has cast out a devil and rather than accepting this as a miracle, the onlookers set up a polarity: Jesus has either done this through the power of God or Beelzebul. They want proof of Jesus’ power, but he won’t give it. He turns their reasoning back on them. I suspect his warning about households being divided rather goes over their heads. They have already categorised Jesus.
In our daily lives it takes grace and faith to work against division and to assume the good. It is so easy to close a conversation before it begins. We don’t have to look far to see ‘households divided’. Our press is able to pit one group against another with remarkable ease. Social media adds layer upon layer of division where an erroneous opinion can spread like wild fire.
The Gospel today is a personal challenge to us to examine the seeds of division which take root in our own hearts. Christ asks us to be with him and not against him.
How can you be with Christ today?