GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 7TH OCTOBER 2016
FRIDAY OF THE 27TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
(MEMORIAL OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY)
1ST READING: Galatians 3:7-14
PSALM: Psalm 110:1-6
GOSPEL: Luke 11:15-26
THEME: JESUS THE DELIVERER
When armed-robbers attack, our thoughts immediately go to the police and, where possible, we pick our phones and call for help. We call upon the police because the State has trained and authorised them to deal with such situations. In the same way, when we are spiritually under attack, we need to call upon the one at whose name every knee in heaven and on earth bow and every tongue confess that he is the Lord (cf. Phil. 2:10-11).
In our Gospel text for today, some of the crowd appear doubtful and suspicious of the ministry of exorcism being carried out by Jesus. They were convinced that his ability to cast out evil spirits was not genuine and was tainted by recourse to the prince of demons. This critic of the ministry of Jesus afforded him the opportunity to give a good lecture on exorcism. In his presentation, Jesus makes an important analogy. He tells the crowd, “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his castle, his property is safe. But when one stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away his armour in which he trusted and divides his plunder” (Luke 11:21-22).
To understand who the “stronger” person is in the above text, it is important to recall a statement that John the Baptist made in the waters of the Jordan – “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Luke 3:16). We can therefore infer that Jesus, who is described by John the Baptist as “more powerful” is the “stronger” man in the text under consideration.
What this means is that when I am overwhelmed by evil all around me and within me, I can call upon Jesus and he will deliver me. There is no diabolic situation stronger than Jesus. It does not matter the size and the strength of the chains that the enemy puts on me; it does not matter the size of the padlock that bolts the prison I find myself in; it does not matter the threats that issue forth from the mouth of my enemies. What matters is that I call upon Jesus my deliverer.
Do you find yourself in an evil situation? Take heart! Like the psalmist, declare, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4). Call upon Jesus and he will come to your rescue. He will deliver you!
Prayer: In the name of Jesus, I declare victory over every force of darkness that overwhelms me. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).