Daily Gospel for Thursday March 8, 2018
Gospel, Luke 11:14-23
He was driving out a devil and it was dumb; and it happened that when the devil had gone out the dumb man spoke, and the people were amazed.
But some of them said, 'It is through Beelzebul, the prince of devils, that he drives devils out.'
Others asked him, as a test, for a sign from heaven;
but, knowing what they were thinking, he said to them, 'Any kingdom which is divided against itself is heading for ruin, and house collapses against house.
So, too, with Satan: if he is divided against himself, how can his kingdom last? - since you claim that it is through Beelzebul that I drive devils out.
Now if it is through Beelzebul that I drive devils out, through whom do your own sons drive them out? They shall be your judges, then.
But if it is through the finger of God that I drive devils out, then the kingdom of God has indeed caught you unawares.
So long as a strong man fully armed guards his own home, his goods are undisturbed;
but when someone stronger than himself attacks and defeats him, the stronger man takes away all the weapons he relied on and shares out his spoil.
'Anyone who is not with me is against me; and anyone who does not gather in with me throws away.
Reflection on the Gospel of the Lord
In the Gospel of the Lord today, Jesus Christ freed a mute man who was possessed by a demon. That man was fully possessed by the demon that it disabled his ability to speak. After the demon was driven out, the man can speak freely and the people were amazed.
What happened in the Gospel today leads me to this question, What prevents you from speaking the Word of God? Today, many people are very confused in life and needs the Gospel to guide them. Because of the confusion that people experience, they are walking to the wrong road. But still you remain silent. There are many people who are good speakers who can influence other people but when the topic is about the Word of God, they remain silent and became mute just like the man who can't speak in the Gospel.
Ask yourself today why is this happening to you that you cannot speak freely about the Word of God. That you can't sincerely deliver the message of God to the people who are in need of the Gospel. You may not experienced what the demonic possession like the man in the Gospel but there are still evil spirits around us who can influence you to become mute when proclaiming the Word of God.
Reflect today why such things happen and open you hearts and mind to the Lord. Pray to the Lord sincerely and him to help you cast away those evil spirits around you that prevent you from speaking the Word of God freely. Ask the Lord for guidance on what to do so that you can deliver the message of God to the people who are in need.