We are his house

Gospel of the Day (Luke 11:15-26)

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.

When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, 'I shall return to my home from which I came.'

But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order.

Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, and the last condition of that person is worse than the first."

***

Reflections:

«We are his house» (Heb 3,6)

The Lord comes to rest in the fervent soul; he makes it his throne of glory; there he takes his seat and makes his home... This house where its master dwells is all grace, order and beauty just as the soul in which the Lord abides is nothing but order and beauty. It holds the Lord together with all his spiritual treasure. He is its occupier; he is its head.

But how dreadful that house whose master is out, whose Lord far away! It becomes dilapidated, falls into ruins, is choked with dirt and disorder. In the words of one of the prophets, it becomes «an abode for serpents and demons». The abandoned house is filled with cats and dogs and filth of all kinds and how unhappy is the soul unable to rise from its disastrous fall, that lets itself be dragged away and comes to hate its spouse, tearing its thoughts away from Jesus Christ!

Yet when the Lord sees it return to itself, seeking its Lord night and day, crying out to him just as he invited it to: «Pray without ceasing», then «God will secure its rights» (Lk 18,1.7) – he has given his word – and will purify it from all wickedness. He will make it into a bride «without spot or wrinkle» (Eph 5,27). Believe his promise: it is the truth. See whether your soul has found the light that will enlighten its paths and the true food and drink that are the Lord himself. Do you still lack them? Seek for them night and day; you will find them.