Kingdom Divided?

Our Gospel reading presents the most basic conflict of our world, that between our God and the Enemy, Satan. That is to say, our Lord cast out a demon. Infirmity, in this case muteness, was cast aside and a man was healed. In Christ, the kingdom of God broke into this fallen world with power and mercy. One would think that such a miraculous overthrow of the Devil’s rule would be met with rejoicing. But instead of responding with joy, some accused Jesus of casting out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons. Other, more skeptical people, demanded additional signs from heaven.

What unfolded was not merely a dispute about a miracle. It was a revelation of the great spiritual reality that stands behind all human history: there are two realms, two rulers, two powers at work in this world. And Jesus says there is no neutral ground.