Come, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the LORD who made us. For he is our God, and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.

Today will be another “cheat” day, but Bishop Barron is so good with his thoughts and reflections that I wanted to share them with you. I know there is a sentiment among people that the devil is a mere fiction of our imagination, but spend some time reflecting our Readings for the Day and then read this reflection from Bishop Barron. I see a Country divided these days over so many issues. What I need to ask of myself is what actions can I do, what attitude can I have that doesn’t add to the division but starts to bring us back together again? Please read and reflect…

Friends, in today’s Gospel, we learn of a person possessed by a demon. Jesus meets the man and drives out the demon, but then he is immediately accused of being in league with Satan. Some of the witnesses said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.”

Jesus’ response is wonderful in its logic and laconicism: “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?”
The demonic power is always one of scattering. It breaks up communion. But Jesus, as always, is the voice of communio, of one bringing things back together.

Think back to Jesus’ feeding of the five thousand. Facing a large, hungry crowd, his disciples beg him to “dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus answers, “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.”

Whatever drives the Church apart is an echo of this “dismiss the crowds” impulse, and a reminder of the demonic tendency to divide. In times of trial and threat, this is a very common instinct. We blame, attack, break up, and disperse. But Jesus is right: “There is no need for them to go away.”

Reflect: What do you see in the Catholic Church today that is a source of division? What do you see that is a source of communion? How can you be an agent of communion in your own parish?

Do something great for our Lord today – practice bringing people together; pray for the division of the devil and his many companions. Be one with God and one with fellow man. To repeat the words of a President long, long ago – United we stand; divided we fall. Pray that we all stand together in communion with our loving and forgiving God.

I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy Grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin.

God’s will, not mine, be done.

Be not afraid; just have faith.

jesus, I trust in You.

He must increase; I must decrease.

Lord, if You wish, You can make me clean.

But you man of God chose righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience and gentleness. Compete well for the faith.