First reading 2 Samuel 5:1-7,10
‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel’
All the tribes of Israel then came to David at Hebron. ‘Look’ they said ‘we are your own flesh and blood. In days past when Saul was our king, it was you who led Israel in all their exploits; and the Lord said to you, “You are the man who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you shall be the leader of Israel.”’ So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a pact with them at Hebron in the presence of the Lord, and they anointed David king of Israel.
David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty years. He reigned in Hebron over Judah for seven years and six months; then he reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel and Judah for thirty-three years.
David and his men marched on Jerusalem against the Jebusites living there. These said to David, ‘You will not get in here. The blind and the lame will hold you off.’ (That is to say: David will never get in here.) But David captured the fortress of Zion, that is, the Citadel of David.
David grew greater and greater, and the Lord, the God of Hosts, was with him.
Responsorial Psalm 88(89):20-22,25-26
R. (25a) My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him.
Once you spoke in a vision,
and to your faithful ones you said:
“On a champion I have placed a crown;
over the people I have set a youth.”
“I have found David, my servant;
with my holy oil I have anointed him,
That my hand may be always with him,
and that my arm may make him strong.”
“My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him,
and through my name shall his horn be exalted.
I will set his hand upon the sea,
his right hand upon the rivers.”
Gospel Mark 3:22-30
A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand
The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, ‘Beelzebul is in him’ and, ‘It is through the prince of devils that he casts devils out.’ So he called them to him and spoke to them in parables, ‘How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot last. And if a household is divided against itself, that household can never stand. Now if Satan has rebelled against himself and is divided, he cannot stand either – it is the end of him. But no one can make his way into a strong man’s house and burgle his property unless he has tied up the strong man first. Only then can he burgle his house.
‘I tell you solemnly, all men’s sins will be forgiven, and all their blasphemies; but let anyone blaspheme against the Holy Spirit and he will never have forgiveness: he is guilty of an eternal sin.’ This was because they were saying, ‘An unclean spirit is in him.’
________________________
Come Holy Spirit!
Today’s parable points out two conditions for a house to be securely protected. Firstly, when there is a strong man in it. Secondly, when it is united and not divided against itself. The strong man refers to the Holy Spirit, God Himself, and the house refers to our hearts. The Holy Spirit is already present in us, as written in Romans 5:5, “the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given us.” Come what may, the Spirit remains in us because He loves us.
All that is required of us is to be united to the Holy Spirit. We do this when we are aware of His presence in us and spend time learning to listen, recognise His voice and obey His promptings. Gently, He tells us to have courage, to learn to forgive and be forgiven, to enjoy life’s simple things, to work for peace, etc. This week, as we continue praying for Christian unity, let us ask the Spirit’s help, knowing that for Him, nothing is impossible.
Reflective question:
What is the Holy Spirit prompting me today?
What is the Holy Spirit prompting me today?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year B” by Sr Monika Punan FMVD.
