Gintabog ni Jesus ang isa ka yawa nga apa. Sang makagwa ang yawa sa tawo, ang tawo naghambal. Natingala gid ang mga tawo, ugaling ang iban sa ila nagsiling, "Si Beelzebul nga hari sang mga yawa ang naghatag sa iya sing gahom sa pagtabog sa ila."
Ang iban luyag magdakupdakop sa iya, gani nagpangayo sila nga maghimo sia sing milagro sa pagpamatuod nga ang Dios nahamuot sa iya.
Pero si Jesus nga nakahibalo sang ila mga panghunahona nagsiling sa ila, "Kon ang mga pumoluyo sang isa ka pungsod nagabinahinbahinay kag nagailinaway, ina nga pungsod malaglag. Ang panimalay nga nagabinahinbahinay magabuloblag.
Gani, kon ang ginharian ni Satanas magbinahinbahinay, paano bala ini makapadayon? Suno sa inyo nagatabog ako sang mga yawa tungod sang gahom nga ginhatag sa akon ni Beelzebul.
Kon nagatabog ako sang yawa paagi kay Beelzebul, sa ano bala nga paagi ang inyo mga sumolunod nagatabog sang yawa? Gani, ang inyo mga sumolunod nagapamatuod nga sayop gid kamo!
Sa gahom sang Dios nagatabog ako sang mga yawa, kag ini nagapamatuod nga ang Ginharian
sang Dios nakaabot na sa inyo.
"Kon ang isa ka makusog nga tawo nga lupit sa hinganiban nagabantay sang iya kaugalingon nga balay, indi maano ang tanan niya nga pagkabutang.
Pero kon gubaton sia sang mas makusog pa nga tawo kag madaog sia, maagaw sang makusog nga tawo ang tanan niya nga mga hinganiban nga ginasaligan, kag pamartidahon niya ang iya mga inagaw.
"Ang wala nagadampig sa akon batok sa akon, kag ang wala nagabulig sa akon sa pagpanipon nagapaalaplaag."
Prayer:
"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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Reflections 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. "Obey my voice and walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you" (Jeremiah 7:23). 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?
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