Fr Paul reads from the Gospel of Luke (11: 14-23) where Jesus says to his disciples ‘any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and any house divided against itself will fall’.

Fr Paul says, in today’s Gospel passage Jesus is accused of being in league with the Prince of Demons. The name that we hear three times in this Gospel is ‘Beelzebul’, the Prince of Demons and that term has never really been satisfactorily explained. However, what is of interest of the passage is that, by ascribing Jesus’s exorcisms to the Prince of Demons, his opponents are at least admitting that he did in fact cast out demons. What should we say about the healing activity of Jesus?

Fr Paul says, in the primitive state of medical knowledge at the time, diseases could often be ascribed to demonic possession. It is impossible to calculate the effect on a person suffering from illness of any kind when they meet the powerful and awesome personality of Jesus. Such an encounter might have an immediate and stunningly effective outcome. The Gospels are trying to give us an account of what happens when a sick person meets the divinity of Jesus, because Jesus is not just a human person.

For today’s reflection, Fr Paul invites us to consider this question: ‘If I was to meet Jesus today, what would need healing in my life?’