“Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste
and house will fall against house.
And if Satan is divided against himself,
how will his kingdom stand?"
LUKE 11:17-18
Jesus speaks about the unity required for a kingdom to stand. He uses the metaphor of a kingdom to illustrate the importance of unity for stability. Disunity, conflicts, and internal strife can lead to the downfall of even the most powerful kingdoms. The Lord also highlights the divine power of God. Jesus, through His actions of driving out demons, demonstrates this power. He challenges the crowd’s accusations, stating that if He drives out demons by the power of God, then the Kingdom of God has come upon them. This signifies the presence and the manifestation of God’s power and authority in the world.
14 Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed. 15 Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” 16 Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. 17 But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. 18 And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. 19 If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 20 But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. 22 But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. 23 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” (Luke 11:14-23)
In the heart of a kingdom, unity must reside, for in disunity, conflicts and strife abide. A kingdom divided, a sight so forlorn, a once mighty fortress, now tattered and torn. Unity, the glue that holds us tight, in the face of adversity, our collective might. Disunity, the storm that tears us apart, a destructive force, breaking every heart. Conflicts arise, like a tempest at sea, in the heart of a kingdom, where peace should be. Internal strife, a silent foe, undermining the kingdom, delivering blow after blow. A kingdom stands tall, united and strong, in unity, we find where we belong. But disunity leads to the inevitable fall, a lesson of importance, a warning to all.
Dear Lord Jesus, we come before You today, seeking Your divine guidance in a world where disunity often takes precedence. We pray for unity, for stability, for peace, for conflicts to dissolve, for internal strife to cease. Help us understand, O Lord, the strength in unity, that together we stand, divided we fall, a timeless truth, a certainty. In times of discord, may Your love bind us together, help us to weather the storm, no matter the weather. May we strive for unity, for harmony, for love guided by Your wisdom, from the heavens above. Teach us, O Lord, that in unity, there is strength, that to go to any length, to maintain peace, to prevent a downfall is the most noble call. In Your name, we pray. Amen.
God, as a divine parent, knows what is best for His children and therefore His commands are meant for our benefit and well-being. Disobedience and ignoring divine guidance can lead to unfavorable outcomes and negative consequences. The Lord encourages us to follow His divine commandments and stay on the path of righteousness for our own spiritual and often physical well-being.
23 Thus says the Lord: This is what I commanded my people: Listen to my voice; then I will be your God and you shall be my people. Walk in all the ways that I command you, so that you may prosper. 24 But they obeyed not, nor did they pay heed. They walked in the hardness of their evil hearts and turned their backs, not their faces, to me. 25 From the day that your fathers left the land of Egypt even to this day, I have sent you untiringly all my servants the prophets. 26 Yet they have not obeyed me nor paid heed; they have stiffened their necks and done worse than their fathers. 27 When you speak all these words to them, they will not listen to you either; when you call to them, they will not answer you. 28 Say to them: This is the nation which does not listen to the voice of the Lord, its God, or take correction. Faithfulness has disappeared; the word itself is banished from their speech. (Jeremiah 7:23-28)
In the quiet whispers of the divine, a voice of love, both gentle and kind. "Listen, my child," it softly implores, "Walk in my ways, open your heart's doors." Obedience, a virtue, a heavenly song, a path to righteousness, where we belong. To listen to His voice, a choice so free leads us to a life of serenity. Yet, when we turn away, ignore His call, into the shadows of disobedience we fall. The consequences are but a bitter pill, a result of our own stubborn will. From the dawn of time, this truth remains, disobedience brings nothing but chains. Yet, His voice still echoes, a beacon in the night, guiding us back to love, to peace, to light.
Dear Heavenly Father, we come before You, acknowledging Your sovereignty and love. Help us to understand the importance of obedience, to listen to Your voice, to heed Your divine guidance. Teach us, O Lord, to walk in Your ways, to embrace Your commandments, to seek Your face. May we prosper in spirit, in wisdom, and grace, as we follow Your path, and run this earthly race. We acknowledge, O God, the consequences of disobedience, the pain and the sorrow, the loss of Your presence. Help us to turn our hearts back to You, to repent of our sins, and our faith to renew. May we listen, O Lord, to Your voice so clear, in moments of joy, and when hardships are near. Guide us, protect us, and show us Your way. This is our prayer, O Lord, we earnestly pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.
We are called to worship and obedience, inviting us to rejoice in the Lord, our Rock and our salvation. It is important of not hardening our hearts but instead being open to the voice of God. and maintaining a receptive state of mind and heart to divine guidance and wisdom. This openness is often associated with spiritual growth, enlightenment, and a deeper understanding of one’s purpose and path in life. It’s about being willing to listen, learn, and be guided by a higher power, and to respond with obedience and faithfulness.
1 Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord; let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us joyfully sing psalm to him. 6 Come, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the Lord who made us. 7 For he is our God, and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides. Oh, that today you would hear his voice: 8 “Harden not your hearts as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the desert, 9 where your fathers tempted me; they tested me though they had seen my works.” (Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 7-9)
In the quiet of our hearts, let us not harden, but open wide to God, our heavenly warden. His voice, a whisper in the wind, a song in the night guiding us gently towards the light. To be receptive, to listen, to understand, is to walk in the footsteps drawn in the sand. His wisdom, a beacon, His love, our guide, with open hearts, there's nothing to hide. In the silence, His voice rings clear, a divine melody that the open heart hears. Guidance and wisdom, like a river, they flow, to the heart that listens, to the soul that knows. So let us not harden, but instead, let's be open to God, for it's He who sets us free. His voice, a compass, His love, our chart, guiding us home, to the heart of His heart.
Dear Lord, we come before You today, with hearts wide open, ready to receive Your divine wisdom, Your heavenly token. Help us, O God, to not harden our hearts but to be receptive as Your wisdom imparts. Guide us to listen to Your voice so divine, help us to see, Your holy sign. In moments of doubt, when we lose our way, remind us to listen, to what You say. Your voice, a beacon, in the darkest night leading us gently, to the light. May we always be open, to Your guiding hand, help us to follow, Your divine command. For it is in obedience, we truly find peace, love, and tranquility of mind. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.
Pericope:
V: The Journey to Jerusalem: Luke's Travel Narrative
JESUS AND BEELZEBUL
Luke 11:14-23
II: Oracles mostly in the Days of Jehoiakim
ABUSES IN WORSHIP
Jeremiah 7:16-34
Fourth Book of Psalms 90-106
A CALL TO PRAISE AND OBEDIENCE
Psalm 95:1-11
Reflection Source:
Copilot in Edge
