March 23, 2006

Lk 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 Beelzebul, 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 Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, 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.”

Jesus is very clear. Whoever is not with me is against me and whoever does not gather with me scatters. The journey in life is simple, follow the Gospel and you are on the road to the Kingdom. There are many ways to not gather or to not be with Jesus. My first priority in my life is to be with Jesus in what I think, believe, feel, do, see and say. After that everything will follow in proper order. I do prefer nothing to the love of Christ. There will always be those who are like the ones condemning Christ for healing the sick and possessed. Doing good comes from God and is pleasing to God. I pray for more strength and wisdom in learning ways to give and heal and be with Christ on the journey.