The Collect
WE beseech thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of thy humble servants, and stretch forth the right hand of thy Majesty, to be our defence against all our enemies; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Epistle (Ephesians v. 1)
BE ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.The Gospel (St. Luke xi. 14)
JESUS was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered. But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven. But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth. If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
Lent III - Message in a Minute
Exorcism was common in the first century -- this probably indicates both a clearer perception of reality and a higher level of faith than what characterizes our own era. The people who watch Jesus cast out a demon at the beginning of today's gospel accuse him of using demonic power to do it.
He replies using logic. Jesus asks, "Do you think Satan is foolish enough to work against his own interests? Even Satan knows that a divided house is bound to fall. And if I am using demonic power to do exorcisms, what sort of power are your own exorcists using? The fact is that I am casting out demons with the finger of God -- and that proves that the kingdom of God is right here in front of you."
Jesus goes on to tell a parable about the devil. A strong man can keep his possessions safe, but if a stronger man comes along the first man will lose. His point is, first, that we may think we are strong, but we are fools if we think we are stronger than the devil is, and, second, that the devil is strong but Jesus is stronger. Either way you take it, it adds up to the fact that we can only resist the devil's activities with Jesus' help. The devil is always working to get our attention off Jesus, so Jesus reminds us, "He that is not with me is against me."
The gospel today warns of the dangers of spiritual overconfidence. We are never more vulnerable than we are when we have just accomplished something important. No matter how wonderful the accomplishment may have been, our tendency is to think we did it all by ourselves, forgetting the help we got from God, and thus open ourselves up to the devil's machinations. So "the last state of that man is worse than the first."
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