First Reading - Jeremiah 7:23-28
Gospel - Luke 11:14-23
In the first reading, the prophet Jeremiah laments the people’s refusal to listen to God. Their disobedience is not just an act of rebellion but a rejection of God Himself. By ignoring His word, they enslave themselves to sin. This stubborn refusal to heed God’s voice finds its parallel in the Gospel, where the scribes and Pharisees refuse to acknowledge the power of God working through Jesus.
The Gospel recounts Jesus healing a mute man possessed by a demon. Instead of seeing this as a sign of God’s power, the envious scribes and Pharisees claim that Jesus casts out demons by the power of Beelzebul. Jesus dismantles their argument with simple logic—if Satan were working against himself, his kingdom would collapse. Instead, Jesus affirms that His exorcisms are proof that the Kingdom of God is present. He is the "stronger one" who overthrows the evil forces at work in the world.
Dear friends, the devil is relentless in his attempts to lead us away from God. As St. Peter warns, “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith” (1 Peter 5:8-9). We must actively fortify ourselves through prayer, penance, the Sacraments, and the word of God.
Just as the Israelites fell into sin by listening to their own desires instead of God’s voice, we too can be influenced by evil if we entertain temptation. The key to resisting sin is to fill our hearts with God’s presence, leaving no space for the enemy to enter.
Let us pray for the grace to guard our souls with the power of Jesus, remaining steadfast in faith and ever attentive to His voice.
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