Luke 11:14‐23
Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed. Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebub, 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 Beelzebub that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebub, 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.”
Reflection
In the Gospel story today, Jesus drives out an evil spirit from a quiet man, who spoke again. They thought Jesus was using the power of Satan to take out the demon. Jesus told them, “A kingdom where people fight each other will end up in ruin. And a family that fights will break up.”
Evil fighting evil will not solve anything; it creates deeper evil. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness.” Both Jesus and Martin Luther King believed that only love and goodness can drive out evil and allow goodness to shine over the darkness.
The fight between good and bad is seen in our world today. It is up to us, the followers of God, to shine his light of goodness over the darkness. Violence upon violence isn’t a solution; it is a mass destruction. If one person could change a bad man to a man of honesty and peace, then it can be done. Even the kindness of a child can change a bad person and make them humble.
My mother spoke to me today of a man who stole a car with a baby inside, but he did not know that when he was driving. When he realized that the baby was in the back seat he parked the car in a driveway, left the heat on and departed from the car.
His intention was to do wrong, but he decided not to when he discovered the baby was there. It was like a sign from God to this man that stealing wasn’t the answer to solve his problems.
I believe that with every step we take, even when we take the wrong step, somehow God will shine his light over us and open our eyes that we can be blinded by evil. Evil cannot win when goodness is around the corner.
Codey Montero, 18 years old, Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep
2012 VYC delegate
- Being a Viatorian is important to me because I get to help influence others to be a part of a community that gives back and lives the word of the Lord.
- One thing I will do this Lent to grow closer to God is attending Mass more often and volunteer more.