Reading 1
Heb 9:15, 24-28
Christ is mediator of a new covenant:
since a death has taken place
for deliverance from transgressions under the first covenant,
those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.
For Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands,
a copy of the true one, but heaven itself,
that he might now appear before God on our behalf.
Not that he might offer himself repeatedly,
as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary
with blood that is not his own;
if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly
from the foundation of the world.
But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages
to take away sin by his sacrifice.
Just as it is appointed that human beings die once,
and after this the judgment, so also Christ,
offered once to take away the sins of many,
will appear a second time, not to take away sin
but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.
Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6
Responsorial PsalmR. (1a)
Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
Gospel
Mk 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.”
Meditation: Mark 3:22-30
“How can Satan drive out Satan?” (Mark 3:23)
The entire countryside of Galilee was abuzz. People were being healed of their diseases left and right. Even those possessed by evil spirits were being set free. And it was one man—Jesus of Nazareth—who was doing it all. No one had ever seen anything like it. So how could these scribes have claimed that Jesus was possessed by Satan? How could they ever have imagined that he worked miracles through the power of evil spirits?
Jesus exposed their faulty logic. Of course Satan could not be casting out himself! God had to be at work here. But there was more here than faulty logic. In denying that the Holy Spirit could work through Jesus, the scribes risked committing the only sin that was beyond God’s forgiveness (Mark 3:29). If they couldn’t believe in the miracles Jesus was working right before their eyes, then how would they believe in the salvation he offered them?
Don’t let today’s reading make you nervous about your own fate. If you truly believe that Jesus is Lord and Savior, that in and of itself is proof that the Holy Spirit is living in you, bringing you to a deeper faith. The only question to ask is, “How much more can I let the Spirit do in my life?” He wants to be your defender, counselor, and comforter, in good times and bad. He wants to help you to spread the good news of the gospel. He wants to give you visions and dreams for your life and for your brothers and sisters in Christ (Joel 3:3).
If you have wanted to be more in touch with the Holy Spirit, know that he wants to be in touch with you as well! So go ahead and pursue the Spirit’s touch. Read the Scriptures every day, asking the Spirit to open them up for you. Tune out distractions in your prayer time, and listen for his voice. Invite him to be with you throughout your day—at work, at home with your family, or in any situation where you need his wisdom, peace, and strength. Who knows? Maybe you’ll see some miracles just like the people of Galilee did!
“Holy Spirit, let me see with your eyes! Convict me when I need self-control, and inspire me when I need compassion. May my heart always be attentive to your still, small voice.”
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