"Kay paagi sa gahom sang Dios"

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Lucas 11:14-23)

Isa sadto ka tion nagtabog si Jesus sang malaot nga espiritu nga nagsulod sa isa ka tawo nga nangin kabangdanan sang iya pagkaapa. Sang matabog niya ang malaot nga espiritu, nakahambal dayon ang apa. Natingala gid ang mga tawo.

Pero may mga tawo didto nga nagsiling, "Nagatabog siya sang malaot nga mga espiritu paagi sa gahom nga ginhatag sa iya ni Satanas nga amo ang pangulo sang malaot nga mga espiritu."

Ang iban didto luyag magdakop-dakop kay Jesus, gani ginsilingan nila siya nga maghimo sang milagro sa pagpamatuod nga ginpadala siya sang Dios.

Pero nahibaluan ni Jesus ang ila hunahuna, gani nagsiling siya sa ila, "Kon ang mga pumuluyo sang isa ka ginharian magbinahin-bahin kag mag-ilinaway, ina nga ginharian malaglag. Kag amo man ang matabo sa panimalay nga nagabinahin-bahin kag nagailinaway.

Gani kon si Satanas kag ang mga sakop niya magbinahin-bahin kag mag-ilinaway, paano makapadayon ang iya ginharian? Kay nagasiling kamo nga nagatabog ako sang malaot nga mga espiritu tungod nga ginahatagan ako sang gahom ni Satanas nga pangulo sang malaot nga mga espiritu.

Kon si Satanas ang nagahatag sa akon sang gahom para magtabog sang malaot nga mga espiritu, sin-o ang nagahatag sang gahom sa inyo mga sumulunod nga nagatabog man sang malaot nga mga espiritu? Ang inyo mga sumulunod mismo nagapamatuod nga sala gid kamo.

Karon, tungod kay nagatabog ako sang malaot nga mga espiritu paagi sa gahom sang Dios, nagapamatuod ini nga ang paghari sang Dios nag-abot na sa inyo."

Ginsugiran sila ni Jesus sang isa pa ka paanggid, "Kon nagaguwardya ang makusog nga tawo sa iya balay, nga kompleto ang armas, indi gid maano ang iya mga pagkabutang.

Pero kon sulungon siya sang mas makusog pa sang sa iya, mapierde siya. Ang iya ginasaligan nga mga armas kuhaon sa iya, kag pati ang tanan niya nga mga pagkabutang pamartidahon pa."

Pagkatapos nagsiling si Jesus, "Ang wala nagaapin sa akon, kontra sa akon. Kag ang wala nagabulig sa akon sa pagtipon sang mga tawo sa Dios nagapalapta lang."

Prayers:

"O Lord, our God, grant us, we beseech you, patience in troubles, humility in comforts, constancy in temptations, and victory over all our spiritual foes. Grant us sorrow for our sins, thankfulness for your benefits, fear of your judgment, love of your mercies, and mindfulness of your presence; now and for ever." (Prayer by John Cosin)

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Reflection of the Daily Gospel:

What is the best protection which brings lasting security to our lives? Scripture tells us that true peace and security come to those who trust in God and obey his word. The struggle between choosing to do good or evil, yielding to my will or God's will, God's way or my way, cannot be won by human strength or will-power alone. Our enemy, the devil, conspires with the world and our flesh, to lead us into hurful and sinful desires. Peter the Apostles tells us, Our adversary, the devil prowls the earth seeking the ruin of souls (1 Peter 5:8-9). God offers us grace and protection if we are willing to obey his word and resist the devil. Because you have made the Lord your refuge, the Most High your habitation, no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent. For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways (Psalm 91:9-11).

Jesus' numerous exorcisms brought freedom to many who were troubled and oppressed by the work of evil spirits. Jesus himself encountered personal opposition and battled with Satan when he was put to the test in the wilderness just before his public ministry. He overcame the evil one through his obedience to the will of his Father. Some of the Jewish leaders reacted vehemently to Jesus' healings and exorcisms and they opposed him with malicious slander. How could he get the power and authority to release individuals from Satan's power? They assumed that he had to be in league with Satan. They attributed his power to Satan rather than to God.

Jesus answers their charge with two arguments. There were many exorcists in Palestine in Jesus' time. So Jesus retorted by saying that they also incriminate their own kin who cast out demons. If they condemn Jesus they also condemn themselves. In his second argument he asserts that no kingdom divided against itself cannot survive for long? We have witnessed enough civil wars in our own time to prove the destructive force at work here for the annihilation of whole peoples and their land. If Satan lends his power against his own forces then he is finished. How can a strong person be defeated except by someone who is stronger? Jesus asserted his power and authority to cast out demons as a clear demonstration of the reign of God. Jesus' reference to the finger of God points back to Moses' confrontation with Pharoah and his magicians who represented Satan and the kingdom of darkness (see Exodus 8:19). Jesus claims to be carrying on the tradition of Moses whose miracles freed the Israelites from bondage by the finger of God. God's power is clearly at work in the exorcisms which Jesus performed and they give evidence that God's kingdom has come.

Jesus makes it clear that there are no neutral parties. We are either for Jesus or against him, for the kingdom of God or against it. There are two kingdoms in opposition to one another – the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness under the rule of Satan. If we disobey God’s word, we open to door to the power of sin and Satan in our lives. If you want to live in freedom from sin and Satan, then your house – your life and all you possess – must be occupied by Jesus where he is enthroned as Lord and Savior. Is the Lord Jesus the Master of your home, heart, mind, and will?