26-Jan-15

Gospel MK 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.”
Reflection:
Although Jesus respected the written law, he was not held captive by it. His teachings and power were based of what had been given to him by the Father, through the Spirit.
The Scribes were the equivalent of a judge in today's society. As interpreters of the written religious law, their decisions determined a person's guilt or innocence. They were protective of their authority and so sure of their own opinion that their minds were closed.
Centuries before the appearance of Jesus, God spoke to Israel through the prophet Jeremiah: "Listen oh foolish, senseless people, you with eyes that do not see and ears that do not listen. Have you no respect for me at all?" Jeremiah 6:21-22
Having witnessed Jesus drive a demon out of a possessed man, the Scribes refused to attribute Jesus' power to God and instead accused him of being a tool of the devil.
Jesus replied by charging the Scribes with the only unforgivable sin, blaspheming against the Holy Spirit, i.e. attributing to the Devil, the good that comes from God, through the Holy Spirit.
The Scribes, though learned, were held captive and condemned by their own intelligence.
There is a lesson here for me. I should always be careful not to be too certain of my own opinion.
I am reminded of the time when I came in contact with a homeless man. I immediately started to offer him money. He declined my offer and told me he just wanted to talk.
I need to listen to others with an open-mind, without prejudgement, for there are none so blind as those who will not see.
May we always be receptive to the invading presence of God as revealed to us through the Holy Spirit."
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love."