Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, Bishops, January 26, 2026

Gospel

Mark 3:22-30

The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said of Jesus,

“He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and

“By the prince of demons he drives out demons.”

Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables,

“How can Satan drive out Satan?

If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

And if a house is divided against itself,

that house will not be able to stand.

And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided,

he cannot stand;

that is the end of him.

But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property

unless he first ties up the strong man.

Then he can plunder his house.

Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies

that people utter will be forgiven them.

But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit

will never have forgiveness,

but is guilty of an everlasting sin.”

For they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

Reflection

In the Gospel the scribes upon faced with undeniable evidence of people being healed and freed from evil refuse to be moved toward faith. Instead of asking who Jesus truly is, they attempt to discredit Him by calling good evil, claiming that His power comes from Beelzebul. Jesus responds by exposing the absurdity of their accusation, “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand; that is the end of him". He is pointing out how, evil does not work to undo itself. It is not in its nature . What Jesus is doing is not the work of Satan, but the sign that Satan’s power is being overthrown.

Jesus goes on warning about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit..."But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, "Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven." 136 There are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept his mercy by repenting, rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit. 137 Such hardness of heart can lead to final impenitence and eternal loss" Number 1864.

As the Catechism explains, God’s mercy has no limits, but it cannot be received by a heart that stubbornly refuses it. The scribes are not guilty because they doubt or struggle; they are guilty because they deliberately close themselves to the truth, refusing to recognize God’s work even when it stands plainly before them. Their sin is not ignorance, but willful resistance. This makes me consider, are there times in our lives where we ever resist the Holy Spirit whether out of pride or discomfort, hardening our hearts intentionally or not?