A reading from the gospel according to Luke 11:15-26
15 When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd 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.
24 “When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, ‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’
25 But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order.
26 Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, and the last condition of that man is worse than the first.”
Reflection: Unity and Disunity
Good news: Jesus has the power to drive out demon.
Jesus came down to earth to unite the people and establish His Kingdom. Part of this project is to set the people free from the enslavement of satan who causes them to sin and suffer. That is why there are many instances in the bible where Jesus cast out demons from individuals. The gospel reading above is an example. Yet some people accused Him as an instrument of the prince of demons. Jesus used this occasion to preach about the unity in the Kingdom of God.
“Divide and Rule” is a powerful tactic or strategy to destroy the enemy. Satan and demons use this method to stop or defeat the Kingdom of God as established by Jesus. They will use everything to dissociate people from God and from one another. They are happy seeing people fight each other even over trivial matters. They will subtly tempt persons of good intention to become doubtful of themselves and to suspect one another of ill motives. This will cause confusion and division. Thus the work of redemption is sadly affected. They are at work to attract people to their side and to sow wickedness everywhere. They will use anyone, wittingly or unwittingly, including church people to advance their cause. Woe to people who allow themselves to be used by these fallen angels.
When we are divided, we know Satan is at work. When people in the Church are constantly opposed to each other, the church will not last long. However, we give thanks to God because He is stronger than any kingdom, power or authority. He will never allow Satan to triumph within His Church (Matthew16:18).
“United we stand, divided we fall” and “In union, there is strength” are old maxims. For the Kingdom of God to be fully realized, we need to stand united with Jesus our Lord and savior in order to crush the effort of the enemy who wants to see us divided and fall. His name alone is powerful enough for the devil to tremble and flee. Let us stand on guard against disunity among believers. More importantly, let us always invoke the name of Jesus to cast out the demons among us and within us.
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Jesus addresses a profound issue: division. After casting out a demon, some people accuse Him of doing it through Beelzebul, the prince of demons. Jesus responds by pointing out a simple truth: “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall” (v.17). His words highlight a key spiritual principle — unity under God is essential for strength and victory.
Jesus’ message here is not just about demons or accusations; it’s about the condition of our hearts and the powers at work in the world. Division, whether spiritual, personal, or communal, is a tactic of the enemy. The more divided we are — within ourselves, our families, or our communities — the more vulnerable we become. Jesus calls us to recognize the destructive nature of division and to stand firmly united in the power of God’s kingdom.
The passage also reveals a critical truth about the spiritual battles we face. Jesus speaks of a strong man guarding his house (v.21) but then shows that when someone stronger comes, he overpowers the strong man and takes away his armor. This is a picture of Jesus’ authority over all evil powers. While evil may seem powerful, Christ is stronger. His authority is not just about defeating demons; it’s about breaking the chains of sin and darkness that can entrap us.
Jesus warns us about what happens when we attempt to rid ourselves of evil but leave a spiritual void. In verses 24-26, He describes a spirit that leaves a person but returns, finding the house “swept clean.” It then brings seven other spirits, making the final condition worse than the first. This illustrates that simply removing evil is not enough. We must fill our lives with God’s presence and His Spirit. Otherwise, emptiness can lead to even greater problems.
In our daily battles, whether against sin, fear, or division, we must remember that Jesus is the stronger one. He is more than capable of not only delivering us but also filling us with His Spirit. Let us commit to being united in Him, allowing His light to fill every corner of our hearts, and letting His strength bring victory over all darkness.
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When people witnessed Jesus driving out demons, some accused Him of using dark powers to fight darkness. Others demanded proof before they could believe. In this tension, He gave a powerful lesson that still speaks today: light cannot come from darkness, and the heart must not remain empty once cleansed, or else it risks being overtaken again.
Think about electricity in a city during a blackout. When power is gone, everything stops. Lights go out, machines freeze, and life feels paralyzed. If someone manages to restore the power temporarily but doesn’t repair the main line, the blackout will return, often worse than before. In the same way, our hearts may experience moments of renewal like freedom from sin, habits, or toxic mindsets; but if we leave the space empty, something else will quickly fill it.
Consider someone overcoming an addiction. At first, they may break free from the destructive pattern, and that’s already a tremendous victory. But if that space isn’t filled with something life-giving such as healthy relationships, purposeful work, prayer, or community support, then loneliness or boredom can creep in. Before long, they may fall back into the same trap, even deeper than before. True healing comes not only from casting out what is harmful but also from nurturing what is good.
This applies to the way we handle negativity as well. Imagine unfollowing toxic accounts on social media. That’s a good step, but if you don’t fill your feed with inspiring, uplifting, and truthful voices, you may soon find yourself searching for entertainment in the same places you tried to escape. The human spirit cannot remain in a vacuum; it craves filling. The question is: with what?
Another angle is community life. When corruption is driven out of an institution, say, a company or even a government office, people rejoice. But if no new culture of integrity, transparency, and accountability takes root, old habits return, often worse than before. Change without transformation does not last.
Jesus’ words also remind us of the battle between division and unity. In a family, for example, if siblings constantly compete and undermine each other, the household becomes unstable. But if they unite for a common purpose, strength grows. The same is true in workplaces and communities. Division weakens, unity strengthens. We must ask ourselves daily: are we contributing to building up, or tearing down?
One modern example is the way people handle conflicts online. A single post can divide people into factions, and before long, the thread turns toxic. But when one person steps in with wisdom and calm, diffusing anger instead of adding to it, healing begins. Darkness never drives out darkness; only light can.
This teaching also speaks about personal responsibility. It is not enough to simply avoid sin or remove what is wrong in our lives. We are called to actively cultivate virtues including kindness, patience, forgiveness, and love. Like a garden, if weeds are removed but no seeds are planted, weeds will grow back. But if you plant flowers, fruit, and vegetables, the soil will bear good fruit and resist what is harmful.
We can take courage in this: the One who brings true freedom also gives strength to stay free. When we invite Him into our hearts, we are no longer empty but filled with His presence. That presence sustains us in trials, strengthens us in weakness, and empowers us to live differently.
So let us examine our lives. What habits, attitudes, or influences have been driven out? More importantly, what are we filling that space with? Are we letting goodness, wisdom, and love dwell in us, or are we risking the return of what once enslaved us?
Today, choose not only to let go of the darkness but to embrace the light. Fill your heart with what is lasting and true. For a life that is swept clean but left empty will soon be overrun, but a life filled with purpose, faith, and love will stand strong and unshaken.
