From the Daily Lectionary for Monday in the Twenty First Week after Pentecost
Luke 11:14-26
Now 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. But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” Others, to test him, kept demanding from him a sign from heaven. But he knew what they were thinking and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself becomes a desert, and house falls on house. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? —for you say that I cast out the demons by Beelzebul. Now if I cast out the demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his castle, his property is safe. But when one stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his plunder. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
“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.’ When it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. Then 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.”
More demons in Luke’s Gospel. One would think that Luke may be depicting Jesus’ ministry as a cosmic struggle between the forces of good and evil. And that would be true. The contest between good and evil is at the heart of the created order. Jesus’ critics accuse him of playing evil against evil, manipulating the crowds like a snake oil salesman for his own egotistical purposes. But what interest would Satan have in refuting evil, his very own diabolical designs, Jesus asks the crowd. Trust what you see: the mute speak, the blind see, the lame walk, and good news is brought to the poor. Trust what is true and good when you see it.
This is about the choice we must make at some time or another in our lives. There are times when we must cast aside social and cultural convention and choose what is good and right, even if the good is counter to the norms of “polite company.” Demon possession in Ancient Israel was dealt with under the auspices of the priestly class. There were certain protocols which were to be followed. Jesus, one might argue, and some did argue, was usurping the authority of the Temple establishment, employing unconventional means. This passage depicts, in short, a turf dispute between Jesus and the priestly authorities. Envy is perhaps the culprit. It usually is.
The point here is that we must choose the good when we see it. There is no neutral ground, and time is short. We are either for the good or we are against it. Such clarity of choice is a gift to our particular culture right now. For those who choose to see, we are facing the demons of racism, corruption, and tyranny. Our critics say that those of us who call out such demons, are ourselves evil, even when, all the while, we speak of justice, honesty, inclusion, and compassion. We know better. We know the truth when we see it.
There is no neutral ground, and time is short; no time for equivocation; no time for false equivalency; no time to forbear falsehood; no time for petty arguments. As followers of Jesus we belong to the truth, and sometimes we have to fight for it uncompromisingly and undistracted. Now is such a time. We are either with Jesus or against him… and what a privilege it is to make such a choice.
A Prayer for Guidance (BCP p. 832)
Direct us, O God, in all our doings with your most gracious favor, and further us with your continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in you, we may glorify your holy Name, and finally, by your mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
