The Reading:  Luke 11:14-23 (God’s kingdom has come upon you)

17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls.”

In today’s reading, Jesus is speaking to the Jewish leaders who criticized his authority to perform exorcisms. In one of his arguments to refute them, he uses the familiar passages often translated as “A house divided cannot stand.”

We have only to read the headlines to experience this truth: Ukraine, Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and countries too numerous to mention with internal conflicts which don’t rise to level of our attention.

But as I meditate on this passage, I think about my own kingdom of thoughts, my own spiritual world. What will happen if I remain divided? Therefore, Lent seems to be a good time to reflect on these and other similar questions: Am I embracing the same kinds of freedom Jesus offered to those He exorcised from demons? Am I consistently seeking to discern right choices for my life? Am I actively avoiding temptations? Am I living from a place of love? Am I pursuing the Kingdom of God? Am I at least trying to find out what these questions mean to me?

Prayer: O Lord, our God, grant us, we beseech you, patience in troubles, humility in comforts, constancy in temptations, and victory over all our spiritual foes. Grant us sorrow for our sins, thankfulness for your benefits, fear of your judgment, love of your mercies, and mindfulness of your presence; now and forever. (by John Cosin)