Fr. Rick’s Two Minute Homily for Monday – 01-24-2022

Monday 3rd Week in Ordinary Time 2022   
 Mark 3:22-30 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012422.cfm  

 JESUS, THE STRONGER ONE, BREAKS ALL ILLUSIONS.
“HEY, EVE, IF YOU EAT OF THE TREE OF GOOD AND EVIL, YOU WILL BE LIKE GOD.” 

What a trick? What deceit? “For God knows that when you eat from it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” These are the words Satan spoke to Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:5). For sure, God knew that she and Adam (us) would know good and evil. Satan didn’t say knowing was not only in the head. Knowing good and evil will be in all of life’s experiences.  

Evil cannot be in the same room with goodness, and it must do something desperate or makeup something to make itself look good. We call that moral relativism or making everything suit me, even at the expense of others. 

That is what is happening in today’s Gospel. Because of the evil in the scribe’s hearts, they could not see the goodness in Jesus and all He did. So, they made something up and believed it to be true: “He is possessed by Beelzebul, the prince of demons.” 

It is laughable because it is so ridiculous. When someone rubs us the wrong way, it is much better to chat with them and find out where they are coming from. Assumptions are illusions and lead to division if we don’t check them out. Show respect to someone and have a little humility to find the truth about something. The Strong One Who humbled Himself to become one with us in all we experience will not allow your house (you) to be plundered by evil.  

Who would benefit from a healthy chat? It takes courage and trust, and that is all Jesus needs in us to turn something ugly into pure joy. See how strong Jesus can be in you. 

IGNITE THE FIRE 

Fr. Rick Pilger, IC  
www.bscchurch.com