A reading of the holy Gospel according to LK 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 wasteand 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 reliedand 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 restbut, 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 spiritsmore wicked than itself who move in and dwell there,and the last condition of that man is worse than the first.”
REFLECTION
"When a strong man fully armed guards his palace,his possessions are safe."
One of my favorite saints is Saint Padre Pio. He loved the Mother of God and he loved using "the weapon"--the Rosary. Daily he said no less than 5 but as many as 40 rosaries a day. Each decade came alive as he meditated on the mysteries. "The Rosary was his 'habitual prayer' and his 'weapon' against the powers of hell." ( Padre Pio: The True Story by C Bernard Ruffin)
Today, we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, formerly known as Feast of Our Lady of Victory and Feast of the Holy Rosary. Pope Pius V in 1571 called on all Catholic European states to continuously pray the rosary as the Christian forces were no match for the Ottoman Empire invaders. After 5 hours of intense fighting, the victory went to the Christian forces, denying the Ottoman Empire takeover of Old and New Rome.
St Dominic in 1208 was taught by Mary how to pray the Rosary and in every apparition since then the Rosary is her battle cry. Our Mother Mary has asked us to recite the rosary in reparation for sins and as a shield or weapon against the forces of evil.
PONDER
Have we shielded our families from intruders, burglars, evil people by pad locking our homes, putting up alarms and security systems, and taking all precautions to prevent any harm to our loved ones? If we desire nothing but good for all and have a strong desire for all to go to heaven are we ready for combat? Do we stand firm against the tactics of the devil, struggle against the principalities, stand up to the powers of this dark world? How many people stand outside of an abortion clinic and Planned Parenthood and with rosary in hand, recite over and over the Rosary? We are in combat, we need all the best weapons. The Rosary is our weapon against evil.
PRAY
Dear Mama, as I sit next to you in prayer, I cannot find the words to express my fears, my doubts and my feelings of lost hope. But you know all and you have gifted us with your loving intercession and the treasure of graces obtained through your help. Let me grow in fervor in praying the Rosary. May I use it as a means to open up the flood gates of blessings for myself and my family. Help all in this spiritual warfare. Please teach us to pray and allow me to abandon myself into your care. Have pity on me.
Comments