demons and kingdoms

Good morning friends,
Our reading picks up from where Sunday's reading left off: Jesus taught the disciples how to pray and promised that God would always give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. It's unclear if today's conversation takes place in the same place or if there is a break between that conversation and this one. Jesus' opponents accuse him of casting out demons by Satan's power. Jesus responds that a house divided against itself can't stand, and suggests instead that his exorcism is a sign of God's kingdom among them.

To go along with this point Jesus tells two stories, one a parable about a strong man guarding his home and the other about the fate of the cast out demon. What do you think the point of the story of the strong man is? Why does Jesus tell the story of the exiled demon? How does a healed person avoid the fate of the healed person in this story? May we have eyes to see signs of God's kingdom around us today.

God bless,
Sam

Luke 11:14-26
14Now he was casting out a demon that was mute; when the demon had gone out, the one who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed. 15But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” 16Others, to test him, kept demanding from him a sign from heaven.

17But he knew what they were thinking and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself becomes a desert, and house falls on house. 18If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? —for you say that I cast out the demons by Beelzebul. 19Now if I cast out the demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 20But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you. 21When a strong man, fully armed, guards his castle, his property is safe. 22But when one stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his plunder. 23Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

24“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions looking for a resting place, but not finding any, it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25When it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. 26Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first.”