Jesus Brings Freedom and Deliverance

Devotional Reflection, Friday, October 27, 2023

Proper 24, the week of the twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost

The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.

Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:

28But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you. 29Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property, without first tying up the strong man? Then indeed the house can be plundered.

You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 988)

AM Psalm 31; PM Psalm 35

Ezra 3:1-13; 1 Cor 16:10-24; Matt. 12:22-32

David's Reflections

Abraham Lincoln has been quoted as saying, "A house divided against itself cannot stand." He was referring to the division of north vs. south at the time of the Civil War. That notion he probably got from this text. Jesus had been accused by the religious leaders of exorcising demons by the power of Satan, of doing magic with Satan's assistance. Jesus rebutted that by saying their reasoning would mean Satan’s kingdom was in a civil war, fighting against itself.

Jesus' response revealed how ridiculous was such a notion and how theologically bankrupt. The obdurate spirit of his accusers revealed an alarming level of blindness, a deliberate refusal to see that God was present and active in Jesus' healings and exorcisms. To "speak against the Holy Spirit" requires more than uttered words; rather, those words arise from a spirit that so long as it refuses to see cannot experience God's love and forgiveness. (See verses 31-31 below.) The danger lies in going so far down the pathway toward obduracy and obstinacy that one cannot find their way back.

Verse 29 catches my attention today. "How can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property, without first tying up the strong man? Then indeed the house can be plundered." Jesus compares himself to a burglar who enters a house, overpowers those guarding its contents and then plunders the contents of the house, namely those Jesus sets free from demonic oppression.

What a way to frame his ministry. Jesus' coming from God was an entry into the house of our existence, a house in which you and I live caught and bound by the chords of habit, addiction, evil, fear, blindness, and the powers of darkness. Jesus' life, death, and resurrection broke the power of those evil forces collaborating in our "caughtness." Therefore, he can set us free from whatever binds and constricts and restrains us from being transformed and from living freely.

Thomas Merton offers us a vivid image of the possibility of freedom in the last lines of "The Victory"

Make ready for the Christ,

Whose smile,

like lightening

Sets free the song of everlasting glory

That now sleeps,

in your paper flesh,

like dynamite.*

*Thomas Merton, Collected Poems (New York: New Directions, 1977), p. 115.

Collect of the Day, Proper 24, the twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost

Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 235)

A Collect for Fridays

Lord Jesus Christ, by your death you took away the sting of death: Grant to us your servants so to follow in faith where you have led the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in you and wake up in your likeness; for your tender mercies' sake. Amen. (BCP, 123)

Collect fron Night Prayer, New Zealand Prayer Book

God our Creator, our centre, our friend, we thank you for our good life, for those who are dear to us, for our dead, and for all who have helped and influenced us. We thank you for the measure of freedom we have, and the extent to which we control our lives; and most of all we thank you for the faith that is in us, for our awareness of you and our hope in you. Keep us, we pray you, thankful and hopeful and useful until our lives shall end. Amen. (NZPB, 697)

In the Order of Worship for Evening

Almighty, everlasting God, let our prayer in your sight be as incense, the lifting up of our hands as the evening sacrifice. Give us grace to behold you, present in your Word and Sacraments, and to recognize you in the lives of those around us. Stir up in us the flame of that love which burned in the heart of your Son as he bore his passion, and let it burn in us to eternal life and to the ages of ages. Amen. (BCP, 113)

A Collect for Mission

Merciful God, creator of all the peoples of the earth and lover of souls: Have compassion on all who do not know you as you are revealed in your Son Jesus Christ; let your Gospel be preached with grace and power to those who have not heard it; turn the hearts of those who resist it; and bring home to your fold those who have gone astray; that there may be one flock under one shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 280)

Daily Office Gospel, Matthew 12:22-32

22 Then they brought to him a demoniac who was blind and mute; and he cured him, so that the one who had been mute could speak and see. 23All the crowds were amazed and said, ‘Can this be the Son of David?’ 24But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, ‘It is only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons, that this fellow casts out the demons.’ 25He knew what they were thinking and said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? 27If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you. 29Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property, without first tying up the strong man? Then indeed the house can be plundered. 30Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

Daily Offices in The Book of Common Prayer

Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, The Book of Common Prayer

Noonday Prayer, page 103, Book of Common Prayer

Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p 109, Book of Common Prayer

Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer), page 127, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer