Daily Gospel Reading Reflection - Divide and Conquer

Word on Fire Ministry ^ | 10-09-2020 | Aux. Bishop R. Barron

[MurphsLaw]

FRIDAY OF THE TWENTY-SEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

LUKE 11:15-26

Friends, in today’s Gospel we learn of a person possessed by a demon. Jesus meets the man and drives out the demon, but then is immediately accused of being in league with Satan. Some of the witnesses said, "By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons."

Jesus’ response is wonderful in its logic and laconicism: "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?"

The demonic power is always one of scattering. It breaks up communion. But Jesus, as always, is the voice of communio, of one bringing things back 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 to the villages and buy food for themselves." But Jesus answers, "There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves."

Whatever drives the Church apart is an echo of this "dismiss the crowds" impulse, and 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."

[MurphsLaw]

Whatever drives the Church apart is an echo of this "dismiss the crowds" impulse, and 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."

[jimfr]

Luke 12:51

[MurphsLaw]

Word...

[ebb tide]

Barron published a murky, equivocating commentary on what he describes as the “intense dilemma” Catholics face with regard to their vote. 

[ebb tide]

Three more bishops say abortion is ‘preeminent issue’ in upcoming election

But not Biden Bishop Barron!

[ebb tide]

Whatever drives the Church apart is an echo of this "dismiss the crowds" impulse, and 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."

“It is not to be excluded that I will enter history as the one who split the Catholic Church”, the Francis.