TODAY’S READINGS

Today’s Gospel (Lk 11:14-23) has Jesus being calumniated even when exorcising demons. He concludes with this:

“Whoever is not with me is against me,
and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” (v. 23)

“[E]ven if people do not want to recognize it, Jesus Christ has conquered and from now on no one can adopt an attitude of neutrality towards him: he who is not with him is against him.” (The Navarre Bible: St Luke, 147)

“There is no safe neutral corner in the front line of a war…Whoever is not with Jesus in his battle against Satan is by default against him…In the context of the clash between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan each person must side with the one or the other: there are ultimately no other kingdoms…Ultimately one is either gathered to Jesus and brought into the kingdom of God, or cast out and scattered (see 13:28).” (Bringing the Gospel of Luke to Life, 322)

The time for fence sitting is over. In reality, there never has been a time for it. But now, the Lord needs to know where we stand. Will we defend Him, or shirk away? Are we going along to get along or are we counter-culture (of death)? Are we the disciples before Pentecost hiding away in anxiety and fear or are we compelled by tongues of fire to speak out fearlessly whatever may come?

I am reminded of the Book of Revelation’s admonition to a particular church that really is a message to all of us:

“I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot.^* I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth…Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Rev. 3:15-16, 22)

It is a striking image painted for John here in this vision. I certainly don’t want to make the Lord sick to His stomach, do you? Let us be bold and fervent in the Faith we profess, not counting the cost here on earth but building up treasure in heaven (see Mt 6:19-21).

God bless.