Demons

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.” (Luke 11:15-26)

There is too much meaning and truth in this reading to adequately cover and explain.  Here are a few excerpts.

“Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house.”  This is a message for our Church and our nation.  Being laid waste and falling is a result we can only avoid through understanding and kindness.  We tend not love our neighbors caused in part by divisive social media and cable television seeking to maximize profits by promoting division and hatred between their viewers.

“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”  This belief is extremely divisive because it forces a choice: it’s me or them.  It promotes tribalism and populism.  That’s destructive.

“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.”  This is quite pessimistic and dispiriting.  It’s a “cannot win” and depressing conclusion about wickedness.  Perhaps its meaning is don’t drop our guards, and always be ready and prepared to battle against evil and those who promote divisiveness, anger, and hatred.

The writer of this Gospel was Luke who likely put some of his own words in Jesus’ mouth.  Perhaps Luke’s audience was a combination of Jews who followed Jesus and those who didn’t.  Perhaps there were Gentiles who followed Jesus and those who didn’t.  We’ll never know for sure.  Nevertheless, what we do know is we must always drive out demons that seek our allegiance – demons of anger, intolerance, envy, pride, and hatred. 

Deacon David Pierce