DAILY- HOMILY

October 11, 2019 - FRIDAY, 27th Week in Ordinary Time
St. John XXIII, Pope
Green.

Jl 1: 13 – 15; 2: 1 – 2 / Lk 11: 15 – 26

Italian St.. John XXIII (1881 – 1963) was Pope from 1958 until his death in 1963.   He convened Vatican Council II (1962) which was continued and concluded (1965) under his successor St. Paul VI (1897 – 1978).   Pope St. John XXIII was canonized together with Pope St. John Paul II (1920 – 2005) by Pope Francis on 27 April 2014 with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in attendance.

FROM THE 1ST READING: Jl 1: 14 – 15
Proclaim a fast, call an assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land of the house of your God, and cry out to Yahweh, "What a dreadful day – the day of Yahweh that draws near and comes as ruin from the Almighty!"

FROM THE GOSPEL READING: Lk 11: 15 – 23
Yet some of them said, "He drives out demons by the power of Beelzebub, the chief of the demons." So others wanted to put him to the test by asking him for a heavenly sign.

But Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every nation divided by civil war is on the road to ruin, and will fall. If Satan also is divided, his empire is coming to an end. How can you say that I drive out demons by calling upon Beelzebub? If I drive them out by Beelzebub, by whom do your fellow members drive out demons? They themselves will give you the answer.

"But suppose I drive out demons by the finger of God, would not this mean that the kingdom of God has come upon you? As long as the strong and armed man guards the house, his goods are safe. But when a stronger one attacks and overcomes him, the challenger takes away all the weapons he relied on and disposes of his spoils.

"Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me, scatters."

REFLECTION
In the first reading the prophet Joel tells the careless and sinful people to prepare for the coming and judgment of the Lord by prayer and fasting. Yahweh comes as a fearful and just God.

In the Gospel reading Jesus contends with the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law who claim that he drives out evil spirits by the power of Beelzebub. Clearly he was not driving out evil spirits by the power of Beelzebub, the chief of the evil spirits: if so, the kingdom of Satan is divided and will fall.

And Jesus challenges his detractors: "But suppose I drive out demons by the finger of God, would not this mean that the kingdom of God has come upon you?" Due to their hardened hearts the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law have refused to see him as coming from God, despite his teaching and his wonderful works.

We pray that our faith in Christ may be confirmed. We pray that we may see God and his grace in his many good works and in the wonderful world he has given to us. We pray that we may see God in all things.

FINALLY, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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