He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters

 

 And He was casting out a demon and it was mute.  So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled.  But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.  Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven.  But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them:  "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.  If Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?  Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub.  And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out?  Therefore they will be your judges.  But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.  When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace.  But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.  He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters."

 

- Luke 11:14-23 

 

Yesterday we read that, as Jesus and the disciples went, He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.  And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word.  But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?  Therefore tell her to help me."   And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.  But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."

 

  And He was casting out a demon and it was mute.  So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled.  But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons."  Today's reading picks up after a passage in which Jesus taught the disciples to pray, giving us what we know as the Lord's Prayer, or the Our Father (see this reading for that passage).  Beelzebub is a "nickname," so to speak, meant to be derogatory, mocking the pagan god Baal, and Baal's many shrines whose names sounded similar.  This name, used by the Jews in derision, means "the Lord of the Flies."  Here, it is a direct reference to Satan. 

 

  Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven.  My study Bible comments that a sign is never given to those whose motive is merely to test God (see Luke 4:9-12).  

 

But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them:  "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.  If Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?  Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub.  And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out?  Therefore they will be your judges.  But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you."  The finger of God is the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:28).  

 

"When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace.  But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils."  The strong man is Satan, whom my study Bible says holds sway over the fallen human race, while the stronger is Christ (see 1 John 4:4).

 

 "He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters."  My study Bible comments that it is the work of Christ to gather the children of God, while those who scatter are in direct opposition to Him.  Those who work in opposition to Christ, it notes, are different from those who work in good faith toward His purpose but are not yet united to the Church (see Luke 9:46-50).  My study Bible quotes St. Seraphim of Sarov, who says that only "good deeds done for Christ's sake bring fruit," and so therefore deeds done for any other purpose, "even if they are good, are deeds that scatter abroad."  

 

It's interesting to look at the word translated as scatters in today's reading ("He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters").   This verb is σκορπίζω/skorpizo).   If we look up the etymology of this Greek word, we find that it comes from an ancient root that means to "penetrate" or to "pierce."  Apparently it suggests to us a force that works like a battering ram or catapult, which can penetrate and enter into a body of persons or other things, and so scatter and divide them, with an action of breaking apart.  The same word has a common root with the word for scorpion (σκορπίος/skorpios) whose tail penetrates and stings, and an animal that is, interestingly, a metaphor for demons, who "sting" and torment people.  So, looked at etymologically, this word suggests to us a weapon of war that divides and splits (and hence, scatters or disperses).  If this is the action of a tormenting, stinging demon that may make a person "beside himself," or create dissension within a body of people, then Christ's power here is suggestive of a far more powerful weapon of war than the demons possess.  Therefore if we consider these various meanings, what we have is suggestive not of a passive sort of force or entropy by which those who do not gather with Christ fail, but rather the scattering is the result of the much more powerful force of Christ.  Moreover, there's another interesting word which is translated as "gather," and that verb is συνάγω/synago.  This is the root of the word synagogue, meaning "assembly" in Greek.  This verb συνάγω/synago for "gathers" is again suggestive not of some more passive force from within those who gather, but rather it suggests there is one by whom they gather, one who leads and so gathers.  Clearly that leading and gathering force is Christ, just as it is the power of Christ that will divide and scatter those against Him.   Taken together, the Greek of the original text reveals to us more about the power of Christ and how it works.  That is, the stronger man whose power and force overcome the will and effort of other "strong men" who seek to rule or lead in opposition.  Christ has come into the world bringing a Kingdom which is a kingdom of love, in which we are taught to forgive, to pray for one another, even to love our enemies.  But in spiritual terms, Christ is the more powerful force that destroys the rule of His enemies, the devil and demons that torment human beings, penetrating and scattering and dividing their efforts -- while in Him is the greater power to lead and to gather together to Himself those who love Him.  Taking these words together we can understand the power in the original Greek text, the authority and divinity present in the teachings.  While we have discerned from many passages we have read in St. Luke's Gospel so far the spiritual battle which goes on unseen behind what we know of our world, today's reading puts it in sharper focus.  Jesus' words draw quite profoundly upon images of battle between kingdoms for the authority over one place, a stronger man decisively overcoming a strong man who thought his goods were secure.  It's interesting how the word for scorpion (a metaphorical image for a demon) somehow is linguistically linked to the greater scattering and piercing power of Christ.  Jesus now journeys toward Jerusalem and the Cross -- which was a weapon used in an attempt to defeat Him.  But through His power the Cross upon which He was crucified will become the most powerful and decisive weapon of them all -- a true battering ram for the gates of hell (the devil's power of death), for they shall not prevail over His Church (Matthew 16:18).

 

 

 

 

 

 

He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad

 

 Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.  And all the multitudes were amazed and said, "Could this be the Son of David?"  Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, "This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons."  But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them:  "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.  If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself.  How then will his kingdom stand?  And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out?  Therefore they shall be your judges.  But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.  Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man?  And then he will plunder his house.  He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.

"Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.  Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come."

 

- Matthew 12:22-32 

 

After Jesus healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, the Pharisees began to plot against Him, how they might destroy Him.  But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there.  And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all.  Yet He warned them not to make Him known, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:  "Behold!  My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased!  I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He will declare justice to the Gentiles.  He will not quarrel nor cry out, nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.  A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench, till He sends forth justice to victory; and in His name Gentiles will trust."  

 

  Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.  And all the multitudes were amazed and said, "Could this be the Son of David?"  Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, "This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons."  But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them:  "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.  If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself.  How then will his kingdom stand?  And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out?  Therefore they shall be your judges.  But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.  Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man?  And then he will plunder his house.  He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad."   Here we see the Pharisees digging in more deeply in their opposition to Christ.  Even the signs prophesied by Isaiah, such as this healing and exorcism of one who is both blind and mute, is healed.  Beelzebub is a name for the god Baal (meaning "owner" or "lord"), worshiped by the Philistines (2 Kings 1:2-16).  The worship of Baal was once ubiquitous around the ancient Near and Mid-East, with place-names and other designations included in the various sites where the god was worshiped in many forms, as a god of fertility, for example, or storms -- both essential for ancient agricultural societies.  "Beelzebub" is a name used by the Jews to ridicule this god, meaning prince of "the dung heap" or lord of "the flies."  Here, the Pharisees call him the ruler of the demons.  My study Bible further notes that the impossibility of demons fighting against themselves is an illustration of how irrational the Pharisees are in their pride and envy that spurs their opposition to Jesus (Matthew 27:18; Mark 15:10).

"Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.  Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come."  My study Bible explains that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is blasphemy that is against the divine activity of the Spirit, blasphemy against pure goodness.  So, therefore, a sin against the Son of Man is more easily forgiven as people did not know much about Christ.  But blasphemy against the Spirit, whose divine activity was already known to these men from the Old Testament, will not be forgiven as it comes from a willful hardness of heart, and a refusal to accept God's mercy.  My study Bible declares, moreover, that in patristic commentary, it is clearly expressed that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is not an "unforgivable sin" and neither does Jesus ever call it "unforgivable."  According to St. John Chrysostom, it notes, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit would be forgivable if a person were to repent of it.  Jesus makes such a declaration knowing that those who blaspheme the Spirit are calling pure, divine goodness "evil," and they are beyond repentance by their own choice.

In conjunction with the reading from Saturday (see above), we now see the religious leaders entrenching themselves even more deeply in their opposition to Jesus.  In Saturday's reading, we saw that they decided to plot against Him, after they first criticized Him for plucking grain to eat on a Sabbath, and then turning to try to destroy Him after He then healed a man with a withered hand.  Here in today's reading, they go further.  Not only does Jesus produce a "mighty work" that is characteristic of the prophesies regarding the Messiah (see, for example, Isaiah 35:5), but He does so in casting out demons as well.  While the people are amazed, and ask, "Could this be the Son of David?" (a messianic title), the Pharisees have an antithetical response to amazing sign revealed to the multitudes.  They go so far as to accuse Him of casting out demons by the power of demons, calling His power evil.  At this time, Jesus gives them the starkest warning yet of where they are headed.  He proclaims that all sins will be forgiven, save blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which is what these men have just done.  They have just pronounced the power of the Holy Spirit to be a work of demons.  Essentially, this is calling God -- and God's grace at work in the world -- demonic.  It says something, indeed, about the hardness of heart that is on display here that either they are deliberately calling what they understand to be a holy work of God demonic, or, if they cannot perceive that as such, they have made themselves truly spiritually blind, and deliberately so.  For these men are not ignorant of the work of the Holy Spirit, they are the great Biblical scholars of their time, devoting themselves to nothing but debating the fine points of Scripture.  Their knowledge and understanding of Scripture is what they pride themselves on.  So, as my study Bible points out, they know full well the things that characterize the work of the Holy Spirit in the world.   My study Bible also notes the irrationality of their pride and envy, both of which have the better of them.  But Jesus also tells us something essential in His defense of the power working in Him through the healings He does.  He is here to establish a Kingdom, the Kingdom of God.  As such, He is Lord, and how could He cast out demons in opposition to His own power?  Jesus asks, "If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself.  How then will his kingdom stand?"  Moreover, since exorcism was already a part of Jewish spiritual tradition, how would the Pharisees' own pupils cast out demons, by what power?  Jesus makes a declaration here about Himself, that He is the "stronger man" who binds the strong man, the devil, in order to plunder his goods, to set free the captives in the house and find souls for His Kingdom.  As the Pharisees grow in their opposition, and resort to accusations of evil, so Christ declares more strongly who He is and what He is doing in the world, what the Incarnation will inaugurate.  Let us consider how He is Lord, and what spiritual power in His name really means.   Jesus concludes, "He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad."   It reminds us of His warning, "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword" (Matthew 10:34).  Ultimately all things are revealed for what they are through Him, and our response to Him.

 

 

But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you

 

 Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.  And all the multitudes were amazed and said, "Could this be the Son of David?"  Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, "This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons."  But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them:  "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.  If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself.  How then will his kingdom stand?  And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out?  Therefore they shall be your judges.  But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.  Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man?  And then he will plunder his house.  He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad. 

 

"Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.   Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, neither in this age or in the age to come." 

- Matthew 12:22-32 

 

Yesterday we read that when Jesus knew that the Pharisees began to plot how they could destroy Him, He withdrew from there.  And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all.  Yet He warned them not to make Him known, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:  "Behold!  My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased!  I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He will declare justice to the Gentiles.  He will not quarrel nor cry out, nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.  A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench, till He sends forth justice to victory; and in His name Gentiles will trust." 

 

  Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.  And all the multitudes were amazed and said, "Could this be the Son of David?"  Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, "This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons."  But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them:  "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.  If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself.  How then will his kingdom stand?  And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out?  Therefore they shall be your judges.  But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.  Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man?  And then he will plunder his house.  He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad."  My study Bible explains that Beelzebub, which was another name for a form of Baal, was the prince of "the dung heap" or lord of "the flies."  This was a god worshiped by the Philistines (2 Kings 1:2-16).  Here, he is called the ruler of the demons.  The impossibility of demons fighting against themselves, my study Bible says, illustrates the irrational pride and envy of the Pharisees in their opposition to Jesus.  

"Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.   Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, neither in this age or in the age to come."   To blaspheme against the Holy Spirit means blasphemy against the divine activity of the Spirit.  That is, blasphemy against pure goodness.  A sin against the Son of Man is more easily forgiven, my study Bible says, because the Jews did not know much about Christ.  But blasphemy against the Spirit, whose divine activity these men know from the Old Testament, will not be forgiven, as it comes from a willful hardness of heart and a refusal to accept God's mercy.  My study Bible says that the Church Fathers are clear that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is not an "unforgivable sin"; nor does Jesus ever call it "unforgivable."  St. John Chrysostom teaches that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit would be forgivable if a person were to repent of it.  My study Bible claims that Jesus makes this declaration knowing that those who blaspheme the Spirit are calling pure, divine good "evil," and are beyond repentance by their own choice. 

We see the Pharisees use a rather typical reaction to someone they feel is a threat to their power and authority.  They accuse Jesus of "playing for the other team," so to speak.  They cannot accept that He acts by the "hand" or "finger of God (the Spirit of God, as it says in the text), so they must accuse Him of working with demons.  In particular they name "Beelzebub," another name for a localized god Baal of the Old Testament.  Baal was an extremely commonly worshiped god in ancient times, and had names that varied throughout the Near and Middle East.  Here, as my study Bible says, he is seen as a demon, even the ruler of the demons (the name Baal means "lord").  But Jesus counteracts with a quite simple -- and important -- argument of His own.  How can He be working with demons by throwing out demons (exorcising them)?  Why would the demons act against their own?  As Jesus puts it, "If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself.  How then will his kingdom stand?"  Jesus frames exorcism as part of a spiritual warfare, framing it as one kingdom fighting against another.  "Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man?  And then he will plunder his house."  He goes on to make it very clear that, in fact, He is the "stronger man" who works with the Spirit of God.  Moreover, it is His power that is truly authoritative.  So much so, that He will displace all others:  "He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad."  This notion of kingdom-against-kingdom is important, for in some sense this is how we understand the action of the Kingdom of God, that it is meant to displace the one called "the prince" (Ephesians 2:2) or "god" (2 Corinthians 4:4) or "ruler of this world" (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11).  So it would seem that what is important is that we understand Christ's kingdom to be under a different ruler, with different aims, goals, and identity of those who would be its citizens.  In that framework, what we are to understand is that citizenship in Christ's kingdom involves a participation in His work, His "code," so to speak, His goals, and approved actions.  What that means is that when we participate in doing good, on Christ's terms, then we participate in His kingdom. When we pray, when we do charitable deeds, or fast in His name, we are acting in faith in Christ.  When we pray an hours service in our home, attend a liturgy, participate in the sacraments of the Church, we do much more than we're aware of in this "kingdom" battle, for the Spirit of God and God's own angels also facilitate what humans participate in.  We should remember that this is also called an "unseen warfare."  We do not need to conquer all the evil we see in a physical sense to be doing our part.  As St. Paul says, we each have our own role to play in the Body of Christ.  That sense of acting "in His name" is the same sense in which kingdoms, powers, countries act in the "name" of their own allegiance to a government or a ruler, as the case may be.  Doing evil things, on the other hand, means participating in this other "kingdom" that does not act for the good of human beings, and is against the God of love (1 John 4:8).  At this time, these are the things we really must consider.  Whose kingdom do we wish to support in this world?  In whose rule and judgment do we wish to participate?  How can we ourselves be part of the kingdom of God, and by this participation, strengthen it in the world?  As we look around ourselves and our world, let us simply think how important this choice, this participation in the work of the Holy Spirit is at this time.  For we are given these teaching by Christ for a reason, and maybe for just such a time.  Let us also remember what it is to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit, against pure goodness, and what it is on the contrary, to see to live and participate in God's mercy and goodness in this world, even if we also see what is evil.

 

 

 

 

 

 

He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters

 

 And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute.  So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled.  But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons."  Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven.  But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them:  "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.  If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?  Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub.  And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out?  Therefore they will be your judges.  But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.  When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace.  But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.  He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters."

 

- Luke 11:14-23 

 

Yesterday we read that Jesus entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.  And she had a sister called Mary, who also sad at Jesus' feet and heard His word.  But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?  Therefore tell her to help me."   And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.  But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."

 

  And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute.  So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled.  But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons."  Beelzebub was the name given to a pagan god (Ba'al, meaning Lord, usually attached to a name of a place where worship occurred).  This name may reflect derision by the Jews, characterizing him as "Lord of the Flies."  Here it is used as a direct reference to Satan, the ruler of the demons (see also verse 18).

 

 Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven.  My study Bible comments that a sign is never given to those whose motive is merely to test God (see Luke 4:9-12).  

But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them:  "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.  If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?  Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub.  And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out?  Therefore they will be your judges.  But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you."  My study Bible comments that the finger of God is the Holy Spirit (see Matthew 12:28).  Last Wednesday, the lectionary gave us the verses in chapter 11 just prior to today's section, in which Jesus teaches what we know as the Lord's Prayer to the disciples.  In Luke 11:13, just prior to today's passage, Jesus taught the disciples, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

 

 "When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace.  But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils."  My study Bible says that the strong man is Satan, who holds sway over the fallen human race, while the stronger is Christ (see 1 John 4:4).  

"He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters."  My study Bible comments that it is the work of Christ to gather the children of God, while those who scatter are in direct opposition to God.  Those who work in opposition to Christ are different from those who work in good faith toward God's purpose but are not yet united to the Church (see Luke 9:46-50, found in this reading and commentary).  My study Bible quotes St. Seraphim of Sarov, noting that only "good deeds done for Christ's sake bring fruit," and therefore deeds done for any other purpose, "even if they are good, are deeds that scatter abroad."

Today's reading gives us Christ's words that speak of His power and authority, and its absolute sense especially in comparison to the demonic, or even to those things nominally good but done for reasons other than serving God.  In the reading from Wednesday, speaking after the return of the Seventy from their first apostolic mission, Jesus rejoiced that God the Father had seen fit to reveal things to "babes" which had been hidden from the "wise and prudent," and He said to the disciples that they had seen and heard what even "prophets and kings" had desired to see and hear, and had not.  But in the middle of these statements, He said of Himself, "All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."  (See Luke 10:21-24.)  In that same reading, the Seventy rejoiced that even the demons were subject to them in Christ's name, and Jesus said, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven" (see Luke 10:17-20).  So, in today's reading, when Jesus is accused of casting out demons by the power of demons, He responds in this context with an image of an earthly war of kingdom against kingdom, to convey a spiritual reality. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? is a reasonable question, for it implies for us a sense of authority that Satan cannot surpass.  Note that Jesus says, "When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace.  But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils."  Again, it not only gives us an image of warfare, in which kingdoms and nations fight against one another, but it also asks us to consider what armor in which we trust can stand against Christ, against the finger of God?  That is, against the Holy Spirit at work in the world.  It seems to beg us to ask ourselves, what is the armor in which we trust in our lives?  Can money withstand the power of the Holy Spirit?  What is it that cannot pass away with certainty?  We can lay out all our plans, and we can trust in material goods to see us through life, but what can we do without the values and meanings that transcend all of that?  What do we do when shocking and surprising things happen to shake us up, and take away the things in which we placed all of our trust?  These things we see every day, and are too numerous to mention.  But Christ warns us many times about trusting to material goods alone to shore up our lives and our well-being (for example, Luke 12:13-21).  Many times we trust in the armor of the world to save us from uncertainty, but uncertainty is an inherent condition of life, and accepting this serves as food to consider what it is in which we may trust that transcends and supersedes the things which can't and don't last forever.  What do we take with us when we leave the world?  What remains with us if we lose what we think we have?  Even to be good stewards of our material goods requires of us a set of values capable of building our lives on good ground, and understanding what God asks of us, even finding the discernment to deal with the questions that blessings bring to us for how we are to use them.  St. Paul writes, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows" (1 Timothy 6:10).  Note that he doesn't say this of money itself, but of the love of money.  That is, elevating the material to a place of armor in which one trusts even before Christ, the things one pursues at the expense of the love of God.  But if we put Christ first, this is the way to sort out and put in order how the rest of our lives must fall into place.  If we trust in the whole armor of God instead, then we are prepared for the varied currents of life, the changes our lives go through, the experiences through which we find what is real and timeless, and what is not.  It is also there we can find the wisdom to know what to do with our resources, what is good and truly valuable, and what is not.  Many people trust in wealth, possessions, friends, even family members, but they underestimate the misery and despair that is possible without a sense of relatedness to God.  Let us think about our armor, and what truly protects us through all things -- and in which we can truly trust.  Let us build our lives with Him.

 

 

 

 

He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters

 

 And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute.  So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled.  But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons."  Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven.  But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them:  "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.  If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?  Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub.  And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out?  Therefore they will be your judges.  But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.  When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace.  But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.  He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters."

 

- Luke 11:14-23 

 

Yesterday we read that as Jesus and the disciples went toward Jerusalem, they entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.  And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word.  But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?  Therefore tell her to help me."  And Jesus' answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.  But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her." 

 

 And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute.  So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled.  But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons."  Beelzebub is a derisive name for a pagan god worshiped by the Philistines, a twist in pronunciation rendering it "Lord of the Flies."  Here, this name specifically refers to Satan.  

Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven.  My study Bible comments here that a sign is never given to those whose motive is merely to test God (see Luke 4:9-12).  

But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them:  "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.  If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?  Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub.  And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out?  Therefore they will be your judges."  Jesus gives a quite rational answer, which illuminates the idea that there is a spiritual war going on in what is often called the "unseen world" of the bodiless beings such as angels.  Why would Satan cast out his own demonic allies?  When Jesus asks, "And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out?" He is referring to the Jewish tradition of exorcism.  In Matthew 12:24, they are Pharisees who bring this charge against Jesus.  What He's saying is that if they want to ascribe demonic influence to exorcism, then their own tradition (and those who perform exorcisms in that tradition) witness against them.

"But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you."  The finger of God refers to the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:28).  

"When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace.  But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils."  The strong man to whom Jesus refers is Satan, whom my study Bible says holds sway over the fallen human race.  But the stronger is Christ (see 1 John 4:4).  

"He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters."  My study Bible says that it is the work of Christ to gather the children of God, while those who scatter are in direct opposition to Him.  Those who work in opposition to Christ, it notes, are different from those who work in good faith toward Christ's purpose but are not yet united to the Church (see Luke 9:46-50).  My study Bible quotes St. Seraphim of Sarov, who writes that only "good deeds done for Christ's sake bring fruit."  Deeds done for any other purpose, "even if they are good, are deeds that scatter abroad."

How are we to understand our faith?  Particularly in light of what is indicated in today's passage, that there is an invisible spiritual battle going on between angelic forces loyal to Christ, and those in rebellion (the demons).  In a modern context, most people go about their lives without any consideration of such possible realities, but it is, nevertheless, part and parcel of the framework of the Bible and of the ancient world into which Christ was born.  This "unseen" reality remains a part of the understanding of the Church.  Certainly there are many people who believe that angels are around us, doing unseen spiritual works.  The demonic is another kind of story altogether, as well as the subject of widely varied commercial exploits and fantasies.  As we know from the New Testament Scriptures, exorcism was a frequent part of Christ's healing ministry, as well as the early Church.  In today's text, Jesus refers to the exorcism that was already part of Jewish religious tradition.  Jesus gives us a picture of the struggle between two warring spiritual powers.  But this is by no means whatsoever an equal battle.  There is the "strong man," Satan, also called the prince or ruler of this world (see John 12:31;14:30;16:11).  But Christ calls Himself the "stronger man," indicating that His power and authority -- extended through the Church -- is greater than that of the demonic powers.  Jesus says, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).  This extends to His authority within the unseen world (Luke 4:36) and He extends His power to others (Luke 10:17).  The Church still continues to perform exorcisms, and Baptism remains a sacrament in which we renounce the powers and works of this "strong man."   Jesus speaks absolutely and unequivocally about His power and authority, unrecognized by those to whom He speaks (and who accuse Him of working through the power of Satan).  As incarnate human being, He is without obvious material power, worldly authority, or the power of a state or an army.  But as Christ, He is One who asserts spiritual authority, recognizable only through faith.  Indeed, it is the power of faith that allies us with Christ, the "stronger man."  In a popular movie from 1995 (The Usual Suspects), a master criminal declares, "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he did not exist."  This was a memorable line in the film, but its sentiment wasn't original.  It has been repeated frequently (in works such as The Master and Margarita, for example, a satirical fantasy written under Stalin's rule).  But the key to understanding our place in the midst of such spiritual struggle is really our faith, and our greatest weapon is prayer.  In the context of today's reading, the lectionary has skipped over the beginning of chapter 11, as it was given earlier, in preparation for the commemoration of Christ's Ascension.  In the verses between today's reading and yesterday's, Jesus gave to the disciples the Lord's Prayer, which begins with the words "Our Father in heaven."   It is important to remember that it is through faith and prayer that we bind ourselves to the power of Christ, and play our role in this struggle.  Forget about fantasies and imaginary representations which appear in popular media.  It is faith and prayer, and all the aspects of worship available to us in the practices and sacraments of the Church, through which we engage in this "invisible" battle, and choose to ally with the One who scatters His opponents.  It is through such practices, also, that we grow in spiritual wisdom and insight into such matters.  Our resistance to temptation of all kinds is the mirror of Christ's denial of the devil (Luke 4:1-13); it is a life prayerfully and faithfully lived that is our part in this struggle.  Take refuge in the prayer He taught us, to Our Father in heaven, whose divine will and kingdom we pray be done on earth as it is in heaven.  This is where we start as His disciples, where we continue, and the true way we meet our challenges.  Our real mission is to seek the kingdom of God (Luke 12:31).

When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, "I will return to my house from which I came"

 And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute.  So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled.  But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the the demons."  Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven.  But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them:  "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.  If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?  Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub.  And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out?  Therefore they will be your judges.  But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.  When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace.  But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.  He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

"When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.'  And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order.  Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first."

- Luke 11:14-26

On Saturday we read that, as Jesus was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples."  So He said to them, "When you pray, say:  Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.  Your kingdom come.  Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us day by day our daily bread.  And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.  And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."  And He said to them, "Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; and he will answer from within and say, 'Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you'?  I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.  So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  If a son asks for bread from any father among you,  will he give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?  Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute.  So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled.  But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the the demons."    Beelzebub was a name used by the Jews, meant to be satirical and derogatory, for a pagan god of their enemies, Baal.  (Beelzebub means "the Lord of the Flies.")  But here the name is used as a direct reference for Satan.  Those who accuse Jesus are most likely scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 12:24).

Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven. Repeatedly in the Gospels, Jesus is asked for a sign.  This is usually to prove His authority to the religious leadership.  But a sign is never given to those whose motive is merely to test God (see 4:9-12).

But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them:  "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.  If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?  Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub.  And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out?  Therefore they will be your judges."   Exorcism was, of course, known and practiced in the Jewish tradition.  Jesus replies to their charges with something quite logical:  Why would Satan cast out Satan?  And if I do this by the power of Beelzebub, then how do your own exorcists cast them out?

"But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you."  My study bible explains that the finger of God is the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:28).

"When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace.  But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils."  Here is another argument by Christ, refuting claims that He casts out demons by the power of demons.  The strong man in his example is Satan, and it is only a stronger -- Christ -- who is able to defeat him, take from him all his armor in which he trusted (all of his weapons and battle gear for protection), and then divides his spoils.  Satan, my study bible says, holds sway over the fallen human race (as "the ruler of this world"), but Christ is more powerful (see 1 John 4:4).

 "He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters."  Jesus' statement here is a categorical one regarding His supreme and central authority. and spiritual power.  My study bible says that it is the work of Christ to gather the children of God, while those who scatter are in direct opposition to Him.  It continues that those who work in opposition to Christ are different from those who work in good faith toward His purpose, but are not yet united to the Church (see 9:46-50). 

"When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.'  And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order.  Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first."  The Old Testament prophets repeatedly worked to cast out rebelliousness among the people in preparation for Christ.  My study bible cites the commentary of St. John Chrysostom, in saying that those who refuse to receive Him are left open to the wickedness of seven other spirits or demons.  We should remember that seven is a number symbolizing completion, of fully going over into evil.

Jesus' final statement in today's reading is a rather extraordinary one, but it is a telling psychological insight about repentance, about personal change.  We can't do it if it's not voluntary.  Christ is speaking in the context of exorcism and the influence of the demonic on human beings.  He first categorizes Himself as the "stronger man" with regard to the demonic, all that is under the influence of Satan.  In truth, it seems, we can't clearly know the effects of Christ's Incarnation in terms of the susceptibility of human beings to the influence of the demonic.  Clearly, He here claims His power as greater.  But human beings are still susceptible to influence from what is around them, to loneliness, to personal and hidden selfishness, secret vices, and a host of "treasures" that have to do with inner demands not met in the rigorous light of faith.  What Jesus suggests is that without a true repentance, even if an exorcism should be done, the last state of that person is worse than the first.  It's a suggestion that holds true psychologically if we observe with experience, that the things we really haven't dealt with might be externally "shown" to be gone, but without real repentance or "change of mind" (as the Greek word metanoia literally means), there will be a sort of doubling down on old behaviors, habits, beliefs.  We remain blind to ourselves and blind to what is better.  To truly change, there is a powerful ally at hand, and that is found in the grace of God.  Here is where Christ's ministry brings what is truly powerful in our lives:  a sense of humility before God, the help of forgiveness and mercy, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the commands of Christ for living our good life in communion with Him.  Without this kind of rigorous honesty with ourselves and our own need for help and insight, how do we find what personal transformation really means?  In my perspective, we need all the help we can get to find ways of seeing that are different from what we know, a point of view that is capable of reflecting what the "Stronger Man" can help us to see from His perspective.   Without such internal work, Jesus warns us through the Gospels, we are left with the dangers of hypocrisy against which He rails:  those who are like "whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness" (Matthew 23:27).  We seek the renewal of the Christ, the One who constantly makes all things new.  Let us look around at our world and observe what works and what doesn't, what changes and what does not.  Let us also note the times we see human behavior in a state decidedly worse than the past, and ask ourselves why.

He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters

 And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute.  So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled.  But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons."

Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven.  But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them:  "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.  If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?  Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub.  And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out?  Therefore they will be your judges.  But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.  When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace.  But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.  He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters."

- Luke 11:14-23

Yesterday, we read that as Jesus and the disciples went toward Jerusalem He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.  And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word.  But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?  Therefore tell her to help me."  And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.  But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."  

And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute.  So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled.  But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons."  In between yesterday's reading and today's there is a passage in which Jesus teaches the disciples to pray.  The lectionary gave us that reading just before Ascension day (see the reading from Tuesday, May 23).  Beelzebub was a pagan god, the name one of ridicule and derision by the Jews, meaning "the Lord of the Flies."  As used here, it is a direct reference to Satan.  Jesus is being accused of using demonic power to effect his healings and signs.

Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven.  Throughout the Gospels, Jesus is frequently asked to prove Himself by providing a sign from heaven.  That is, a kind of obvious sign of astounding power meant to "convince" others of His divine identity.  My study bible says that a sign is never given to those whose motive is merely to test God (see 4:9-12).

 But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them:  "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.  If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?  Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub.  And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out?  Therefore they will be your judges."  Jesus knows their thoughts, one characteristic of His identity and divinity (He is also called the "Heart-knower"; see Acts 1:24).  He responds with logic:  every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, a house divided against a house falls.  Why would Satan attack his own kingdom.  And we note that exorcism was already a tradition in Judaism, so Jesus asks, "By whom do your sons cast them out?"  Their "testimony," which is accepted as the work of God in the world, becomes the judgment against those who accuse Him.

"But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you."  This is as strong a warning as Jesus gives anyone.   The finger of God is the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:28).

"When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace.  But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils."  Jesus makes a clear statement of power here.  The strong man is Satan, whom my study bible says holds sway over the fallen human race.  But the stronger than he is Christ, who comes as liberator or deliverer for human beings (see 1 John 4:4), and clearly a conqueror of evil. 

"He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters."  Finally, this is a statement of absolute power.  It's unequivocal.  My study bible says that it is the work of Christ to gather the children of God, while those who scatter are in direct opposition to Him.  Those who work in opposition to Christ differ from others who work in good faith toward His purpose, but aren't yet united to the Church (see Jesus' statements and teaching at 9:46-50).  A note quotes St. Seraphim of Sarov:  Only "good deeds done for Christ's sake bring fruit," and thus deeds done for any other purpose, "even if they are good, are deeds that scatter abroad."

Jesus presents us with a spiritual paradigm:  there is a kind of "war in heaven," if we may use that phrase.  There are forces allied on one side and another.  Human beings are involved in this battle, and the battleground in our world is the human heart, the interior of a person.  The heart, in biblical language, is the center of the self, of consciousness.  It contains all that makes up who we are as persons, and depths that we don't know ourselves.  In this context, we should keep in mind that Christ is called the "knower of hearts," literally "heart-knower" in the Greek text (kardiognostes).  His statements here indicate not only a kind of battle or struggle for this world and the human beings in it, but also His own supreme power.  To say that he who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters is really to state that there is no battle and no contradiction; in Him is the meeting of all things.  Whatever it is that struggles against this truth, this spiritual reality, does so in vain.  The one thing that may be missing here for those who encounter this language as the language of a worldly warrior is that mysterious but inalienable ingredient in the equation:  the human heart.  God does not compel anyone to love God, to return God's love.  In this we are free to make our choices.  We, unfortunately, have all kinds of influences on us, and part of the characteristic of the demonic is that it is materially-oriented.  Coercion, hypocrisy, persuasive falsehoods that appear truthful, fear and terror, oppressive violence and force, and many other forms of temptation and manipulation are part of the arsenal of that which is against Christ.  But what we put our faith in is His power to liberate, to be the redeemer, the one who ransoms us from captivity, slavery, imprisonment -- especially in the human heart and soul.  All of this battle takes place on a spiritual level, but we do experience day to day its working out in our world in time.  It may never be obvious -- we can view Jesus' refusal to give a sign as a signal that this is not about what manipulates and coerces!   It is ultimately the loyalty and love of the human heart for which Jesus is here in the world as incarnate God.  As He puts it Himself, He is here not to lose a single soul that the Father brings to Him.  But when we're faced with our own difficulties, temptations, terrors, and evil we can see manifest in the world, our faith must be in Him and His words:  "He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters."   This is the reality of a universe beyond what we know, the spiritual truth of Christ's identity.  But we walk through a world that will deny its meaning and its value.

He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters

 And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute.  So it was when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled.  But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons."  Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven.  But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them:  "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.  If Satan is also divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?  Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub.  And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out?  Therefore they will be your judges.  But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.  When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace.  But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.  He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters."

- Luke 11:14-23

In yesterday's reading, it happened as they went that Jesus entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.  And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word.  But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?  Therefore tell her to help me."  And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.  But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."  In between today's reading and the verses from yesterday, Jesus teaches His disciples to pray, "Our Father in heaven."

 And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute.  So it was when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled.  But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons."  My study bible teaches us that Beelzebub was a pagan god, "derided by Jews as 'The Lord of the Flies.'  Here it is a direct reference to Satan."

Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven.  My study bible says that "a sign from heaven would be a spectacular miracle validating Jesus' authority.  Jesus refused to do such a sign in His temptations in the wilderness by the devil, and He declines here as well."

But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them:  "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.  If Satan is also divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?  Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub."  As rulers and kings only rule through the strength and loyalty of their own houses, and fall when betrayed by inner strife or mutiny, then how could Satan's kingdom stand if demons were cast out by the ruler of the demons? 

"And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out?  Therefore they will be your judges."  Jesus is referring here to exorcisms which were a part of Jewish tradition.  Jesus is telling them that if He is accused of using satanic power over demons, then those who cast out demons in Jewish tradition will be judges against His accusers as well.

"But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you."  My study bible says that the finger of God is the Holy Spirit.

"When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace.  But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.  He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters."  Jesus gives an image of Himself as liberator, a spiritual liberator.  He is the stronger man who overcomes, and takes away the armor of the evil one, and divides his spoils.  The image is one of spiritual power and authority, a direct reference to the casting out of the demons that oppress and afflict human beings in the Gospels.  My study bible says of the last sentence here, "This verse is seemingly the opposite of 9:50:  'He who is not against us is on our side.'  Here however, the unique action of gathering or scattering in the issue:  each person does one or the other."

My study bible's note about "gathering" or "scattering" rings home.  In the Greek, the word for "gather" here is συνάγων/synagon.  Its obvious relationship to the word synagogue, a place for spiritual assembly, tells us what Jesus is driving at.  He's emphasizing His power in this realm of spiritual warfare, and the fact that He casts out demons by "the finger of God" or the Holy Spirit.  As we look around in our world, we see a great deal to be concerned about.  There is violence, dissension, misunderstanding, terrible crimes reported in the news, and all around us, people abusing their power -- people who victimize others.  We ask ourselves why this is so.  As believers, we ask ourselves why this is so.  If we remember, we look back to our own Leader, who was also a victim of violence, of corruption, of envy.  His power was not used to prevent His crucifixion.  And I think we have to remember what kind of Liberator He is.  Jesus invites each one of us to gather with Him.  He welcomes us into His kingdom.  But we come as volunteers.  He doesn't compel any one of us to enter.  He invites us.  He welcomes us with love.  It is the oppressive kingdom, the "ruler of the demons" who enters and occupies without consent.  It is the demonic that bullies and scapegoats.  Let us understand, then, what it means to be a part of God's kingdom, to be one of Christ's followers.  It doesn't mean there is no longer evil in the world, nor that our lives will be free of encounters with evil, as was the case with the earliest apostles.  Martyrdom was a byword for the early saints, as it is even in our time for believers in many parts of the world.  But it does mean that we act and live in His name, our good works are done in His name, and every act of healing is a declaration of His power in the world when it is done in His name.  "The finger of God" lives and dwells within us and among us, and it is up to us to be bearers of His light into the world.  He invites us as loving volunteers, not conscripts.  How do you join His assembly?  What is your witness to His kingdom?  We remember He told the Seventy, when they went upon their first mission, "Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves."  Let us gather with Him, and remember whose tradition we continue.

If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?

Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. And all the multitudes were amazed and said, "Could this be the Son of David?" Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, "This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons." But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad. Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come."

- Matthew 12:22-32

In today's reading, we skip forward a few chapters from the last. On Saturday, we read about the healing of two females: one a very young one, and the other with a blood flow, or haemmorhage, of twelve years. Jesus was approached by the ruler of the synagogue, who told Him that his daughter had just died, but that if Jesus came, and laid His hands on her, surely she would live. Jesus and His disciples began to go immediately to the ruler's house. But a woman with a twelve-years-long blood flow came secretly behind Him. She felt that if she could only touch His hem, she would be healed. But Jesus turned around, and told her, "Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well." When He reached the home, He saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing, all signs of mourning. He said, "Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping." And they all ridiculed Him. Putting the crowd outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. And the report of this went out into all that land.

Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. And all the multitudes were amazed and said, "Could this be the Son of David?" We have to understand the impact of such a healing in the context of the religious culture, of a people awaiting a foretold Messiah. The blind and mute man is freed from a terrible affliction, something that has bound him in his life. In the verses just previous to these, Matthew gives us a quotation from Isaiah, a prophecy that he says is fulfilled in Christ. Here, this healing also reflects Isaiah's prophecy, found in Isaiah chapter 35:

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
Then the lame shall leap like a deer,
And the tongue of the dumb sing.
For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness,
And streams in the desert.

Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, "This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons." My study bible notes here: "Filled with pride and envy, the Pharisees found in this miracle a pretext to attack Jesus, accusing Him of having Beelzebub as the source of His power. Beelzebub/Baal was the prince perhaps of 'the dung heap' or 'the flies' -- a god worshiped by the Philistines (2 Kings 1:2-16); here he is called ruler of the demons." The Pharisees are claiming that Jesus' power doesn't come from the God of Israel, but from a demonic source. They're not contesting that an exorcism has happened, but rather questioning the source of Jesus' abilities.

But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?" First of all, we have to look at the things the Gospel tells us about Jesus. He "knows their thoughts." So, once again, this is a case of perception by the "knower-of-hearts." And it is also, once again, a case of perception about those who are in the religious hierarchy. He speaks out to the things they have said and thought among themselves. His answer is quite logical here. No kingdom can battle against itself and hope to stay strong. Why then would Satan work against himself? As liberator and deliverer, Christ unbinds the afflictions of those who are suffering from some form of evil. In this case, He has cast out a demonic oppression. Why then would "the evil one" work such works against his own kingdom? Hence, Jesus' question: "If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?" Surely even the "ruler of the demons" understands what material strength is.

"And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges." In the religious structure of the time, exorcism was a known practice. So, then, how does this happen among the Pharisees through rabbinical practice? By whom do they cast out demons? Jesus calls these exorcists as witnesses; they who cast out demons by the God of Israel will be the judges of those who accuse Him.

"But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you." This is a very important concept in the Gospels; in fact, it is the heart of the gospel message! We have seen in particular in the recent readings in Matthew, in all of Jesus' healings (see the readings of the previous week), that the inferred message is clear: the kingdom of heaven has come near, and is among them.

"Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house." The only way to rob a strong man's house is to bind him. If Christ is then robbing Satan of another victim by casting out the demon that possesses the afflicted man, He is surely binding up Satan's power to do so -- binding up the "strong man" who is the ruler of this world. In this way, those who were once held captive in the house of Satan, are treasures plundered, taken away, by Christ.

"He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad." It is Christ who is the stronger man, who works by the power of the true God. This is a statement of the One allied with God, who works by God's power, who is allied ultimately as Son, and may rule over all things on this earth. Anything that threatens this alliance is doomed to fail, to be scattered. The root for "gather" here in the Greek is "synago" - from which derives the word "synagogue." Its broader meaning is to assemble. This is a declaration of spiritual power and strength, and unquestionable authority over this world.

"Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come." In effect, we find the Trinity here in this reading. Christ's power as Son is of the Father. But He does not declare Himself, in the end, to be the sole witness. He empties to the Holy Spirit, the One whose action in this world will mark the action of God. Even that which is spoken against the Son of Man may be forgiven, but the action of God's holy power in the world is that of the Spirit, and blasphemy against this -- calling the Spirit's work evil -- will not. The Spirit will therefore prove out all things, bring witnessing, and eventually Judgment. As Son of Man, He is also Judge; but it is the Spirit that will prove out all things, including "in the age to come." My study bible notes that God's power works through the Holy Spirit, "whose action signals the present reality of the Kingdom. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is blasphemy against the divine activity of the Spirit. . . . Every sin against the Son of Man can be forgiven, because the Jews do not yet know much about Him. But blasphemy against the Spirit, whose divine activity they know from the Old Testament, will not be forgiven. This blasphemy is willful hardness of heart. It attributes the saving action of the Spirit to Satan and refuses to accept God's forgiveness and mercy."

How does this reading apply to us, 2,000 years after these events take place? Do we know what is the action of the Holy Spirit in our world? Can we make a discernment and understand what this is? The word in Greek for witness is the word we know in English as "martyr." That's what a martyr is: a martyr is a witness for the work of the Holy Spirit in the world, one who testifies, and in that testimony may in fact also be called evil by those who cannot perceive, cannot discern. Saints are all witnesses to the work of the Spirit, the presence of the kingdom in the world. But the Holy Spirit works also in many ways, unseen by others, not spectacular, down to the seeming least minutiae in our lives. But these inner thoughts, this reality of change and effects in our lives, can come to make all the difference. We may have people in our lives who will claim that the changes that come to us are evil, not for the good. If spiritual conversion means a newfound self-esteem, those who are used to walking over us, or manipulating, or otherwise acting in bad faith through deception and lies, may be the ones calling the Spirit's actions "evil" in our lives. If we are involved in self-destructive activities, such as drug abuse or other forms of harmful and personally destructive addiction, those who are used to having us as part of such a circle may also tell us the Spirit's action is "bad" when we feel the positive effects of the Spirit's transforming work and seek to separate from our old habits and environment. There are so many ways in which the Spirit is at work in our lives and in the world. But the Spirit's action will always be seen in the effects left behind. In John's Gospel, Jesus will teach: "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Christ still calls us to discernment of His kingdom, present among us. Can you know the effects of this wind? (In the Greek, the word for Spirit is the same as the one for breath or wind.) Can you discern the effects of this wind in your life? Can you see them in the lives of those around you? Have you ever been called upon to stand in your faith when these effects are called evil through a false accusation, perhaps even out of envy or pride? God's action is at work in us and among us. How does your faith help you to be a part of the life of the Spirit? In the West and among some Orthodox Churches, we celebrated Pentecost yesterday. Among the Eastern Orthodox, Pentecost is this Sunday. Let us think about the Spirit, and today's reading. We are still called to the discernment Christ asked 2,000 years ago. His words and His kingdom still stand, within us, among us, in our world, through our witness and faith.