Daily Archives: 11 October, 2024

Finger Against Tools. Reflection for marriages. Luke 11:15-26

Gospel 

If it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. 

From the Gospel according to Luke. LK 11:15-26
When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd said: “By the power of Beelzebul, 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 against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And 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 own people drive them out?
Therefore they will be your judges.
But if it is 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, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
“When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, ‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’ But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, and the last condition of that man is worse than the first.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Finger Against Tools

The devil relies on his tools, which are primarily temptations, but he also creates confusion between spouses, complications designed to weaken us, like social pressures and trends… But do not worry. The reign of God has come, and the finger of God is stronger and will take away all the tools the devil trusted in.


Applied to Married Life:

Adele: There is no communion between us because there is so much disagreement. As soon as I say something, you immediately say the opposite. When will we reach unity of will? 

Declan: I don’t know. I wish I could see things as you do, but if I don’t, should I stay silent? Or is it better that I offer my perspective in case it might help our discernment? I believe God takes these different views into account, and from our communion, His will must emerge. 
Adele: You’re right. I think what God wants is for both of us to be willing to surrender our wills, so He can overcome any temptation the evil one may be placing to divide us. 
Declan: Completely agree. I love that you see it this way. Well, at least this time we are not in opposition, right? Haha. 
Adele: No, not this time. Haha.


Mother
,

May we use God’s tools to overcome the devil and his tools. Praise be to God, who rules with His mighty finger.