Blasphemers

The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said of Jesus, "He is possessed by Beelzebul," and "By the prince of demons he drives out demons." Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables, "How can Satan drive out Satan?

If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand; that is the end of him.

But no one can enter a strong man's house to plunder his property unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.  

Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness but is guilty of an everlasting sin." For they had said, "He has an unclean spirit." (Matthew 3:22-30)

Today’s Gospel reading is a potpourri of ideas.  I’ll touch on the third about the strong man’s house.  At the risk of seeming political (who isn’t?), I suggest our House is “tied up.”  Consider the recent battle for Speaker of the House and the control a small faction of members have on the vast majority, including the Speaker, so it certainly seems.

Those who wish to plunder our House and country, have “tied up the strong man” – our Congress. We are perilously divided, and “if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.”

Jesus warned the Jews and now all of us to stand united and to drive out Satan.  He warned us of unclean spirits.  As of this writing we are looking at a possible first-ever government default caused by political divisiveness.  The consequences will be dire. 

I’m reminded of “Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness but is guilty of an everlasting sin."  Congressional blasphemers and sinners beware!

Deacon David Pierce