HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF LENT YEAR B. (1)

HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF LENT YEAR B.

HOMILY THEME: A HOUSE DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF CANNOT STAND

BY: Fr. Benny Tuazon

HOMILY:

(Lk. 11:14-23)
Thursday of the Third Week of Lent (Day 23 of Lent)

In the day’s Gospel Jesus drives out a mute demon but was accused instead of having done it through Beelzebul, the Prince of demons. They were so amazed at the cure that they saw it as the work of the devil rather than God. It was a reflection of their regard for the devil. But Jesus countered convincingly that the devil, or anyone for that matter, cannot hurt or go against himself. And He warned them that if He was doing it with the finger of God, then the Kingdom of God is upon them. It means they are faced with salvation or damnation.

If one does not believe, nothing can make him believe. In Filipino, “Mahirap gisingin ang nagtutulug-tulugan o pakainin ang nagbubusug- busugan.” The people were being blinded by their idea of the Messiah and their knowledge of Jesus. They failed to see and appreciate the import of His deeds and hear the messages of His words. In desperation and for lack of reasons to criticize Jesus, they became desperate and accused Him of sleeping with the enemy!

Demons are real. But God is powerful over them. Even in the Gospels there were accounts when the devil even begs the Lord to spare them. But human beings play a crucial tole in the triumph of evil or good in him. They decide which way to go what to do. The devil and the Holy Spirit will try to influence them. Whether we will do good or evil depends on our decision. Question is, do we believe that Jesus works with the finger of God? In other words, do we believe it is the Lord? If we do, then we are close to the Kingdom. If not, it becomes our responsibility.