The Gospel for Thursday of the third week in Lent is taken from St. Luke, 11th chapter 14, 23rd verse. 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 Beelzebel, 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 itself will be laid waste, and house will fall up against house. But 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 people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if 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. Whoever does not gather with me scatters. I want you to focus on the image of a house divided. Jesus is accusing the Pharisees of being that they spoke the truth, but they weren’t living it.

The challenge is to believe that our presence is the message foreign. Closing Prayer Father, we long for authenticity. We long for your presence to shine through us. Open us to this gift and let us be generous in sharing it with one another. And we ask this in Jesus name. Amen.