In the Gospel reading of today, we come across this saying, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons.” These are words hurled at Jesus by the Jews in Luke 11:14-23.
The words, according to Fr. Elvis Mensah in his reflection for the day, are indicative of the following:
“How did the Jews know that Jesus used a demon in casting out demons? Did the Jews ever see Jesus in a shrine with demons? Was this statement the best the Jews could say about Jesus? Why attribute Jesus’s power to heal to His complicity with Beelzebul?”
The priest noted that what the Jews did to Jesus is what some Christians also do to others. Yes! We destroy people. We pull people down. We say untrue things about people. The reality is that we can’t develop as a Church, country, society, or family with this kind of attitude. In fact, it is unchristian and devilish.”
The dislike you have for someone should not prevent you from commending him or her for a good work done, Fr. Mensah stressed, further asking what a person will lose if they give praise to a person for an excellent performance.
Furthermore, he urged faithful to be mindful of what they say about people. “In fact, don’t just speak because you have lips, speak because what you have to say is factual. Speak the truth. Speak because you have something important to say. If your word is inaccurate, please help yourself by being silent.”
“What you don’t want to hear about yourself because you don’t want it, don’t do same to others because they also don’t want it. What you want to hear about yourself because you want it, do same to others. If this negative description was used for Jesus, then expect the same or worse in your life. You may be angry, or you may want to cry on account of what is said about you. What should you do? Examine yourself in relation to your accusation. If it’s true, change for the better; if it’s false, maintain your goodness”, the Priest reiterated.
The unnamed man possessed by a demon, whom Jesus healed in today’s reading, was mute and couldn’t speak, and may have had a problem with his hearing too. Asking Faithful to imagine the miserable situation the man was in, Fr. Mensah implored that they pray for healing, strength and comfort, while also remembering people in similar situations as the man.
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