Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: October 10, 2025

Date: Friday of the 27^th Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture Text:  Luke 11:15-26

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.” Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “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? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore, they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.

“When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

“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.’ But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order. 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.”

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

Today’s gospel shows Jesus countering the accusations of non-believers who were claiming that His miracles and healings, especially the casting out of demons, was by the power of evil itself. He shuts down their illogical argument when He logically reminds them that “every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste.”

Next Jesus declares that we must take a stand for our faith. Are we with Him or not? There is no room in this life for indecision or lack of conviction.

Finally, Jesus warns us that when we are able to rid ourselves of evil (like bad habits), that we need to replace them with something good, positive, holy, spiritual.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Am I committed to Christ? Is my conviction, real, deep, firm?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, we praise You for You are love and goodness and holiness. And we give You thanks for You have created us in your image and likeness. Yet we know that You have also given to us free will, the freedom to choose our paths and to abandon the nature You wove within us all. Send your Spirit to strengthen our resolve and to intensify our faith and fortify our commitment to follow in the footsteps of your beloved Son, Jesus, “the way and the truth and the life.” Grant that we may always and everywhere follow Christ home to You. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.