Jesus responds to accusations that He is possessed by the prince of demons and that He drives out demons because of this possession (Mk 3:22-30).  Jesus tells His hearers that it makes no sense that Satan would go against his own minions since a divided kingdom is bound to fall.  Jesus then says that anyone who believes that He is possessed by an evil spirit blasphemes against His true spirit, the Holy Spirit, and commits an unforgivable sin.  The recent theme of a world upside down continues with this excerpt from Mark.  The Just One is called the devil and the ones who claim status as just (the religious leaders) are following their father’s orders (“You belong to your father the devil and you willingly carry out your father’s desires” [Jn 8:44]).  So Satan wishes to cast aspersions on Jesus by having the Pharisees and scribes accuse Jesus of being Satan.  All through the ages the legions of hell have conspired to reverse the poles of truth and many have complied: “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and revered and worshiped the creature rather than the creator” (Rom 1:25).  That creature is Satan and the created things of this world that he twists to lead men to destruction.  His influence grows and many are sucked into his lies.  Pray daily to St. Michael to “cast into hell, Satan and all the evil spirits seeking the ruin of souls.”  May God have mercy on our country and this world.