Fr Paul reads from the Gospel of Luke (11: 15-26) in which Jesus says, ‘a household divided against itself collapses’.

Fr Paul says in the pre-medical world of this Gospel, things that affected people were put down to devils at work within the person and what Jesus, here, takes issue with is the source of his power.  Basically, Jesus is saying it is illogical that some demonic power drives out another demonic power. Jesus is not even disputing that there were others known to be doing exorcisms at the same time. Jesus simply claims that what he does, he does with the power of God, that the Kingdom of God is here.

There is also a warning towards the end of the Gospel. Jesus is saying that it is not enough to be rid of the demon, if the Kingdom of God is here a person must respond positively otherwise the devils will come back in even greater force.

For our reflection today, Fr Paul says, we might be mindful that the power with which Jesus acts and uses is the power of God