Thursday of the Third Week of Lent
In this Gospel, Jesus drives out a demon from someone who couldn’t speak. Jesus is immediately accused of being in league with Satan. Some people from the crowd said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Jesus’ response is wonderful in its directness: “Every kingdom divided against itself will collapse.”
The opponents of Jesus are all about dividing. The devil is always working for division and hatred. The power of evil breaks up community. But Jesus is always for bringing people together.
Think back to Jesus’ feeding of the five thousand. Facing a large, hungry crowd, his disciples beg him to “dismiss the crowds so that they can go their separate ways into the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus answers, “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.” Jesus says: “I want communion.”
Whatever drives apart the Church or any community in the Church is an echo of the apostles’ approach when they say “dismiss the crowds.” That’s a reminder of the demonic tendency to divide. In times of trial and threat, this is a very common instinct. We blame, attack, break up, and disperse. But Jesus is right: “There is no need for them to go away.”
Let everything we do, be done with the intention of building up and uniting. Let Jesus be the source of communion and unity.
Reflection: Do I engage in behavior that breaks up community?
Reflection by Archbishop Jerome Hanus, OSB
Posted in Articles for Lent, Daily Reflections, Lenten Resources