Matter of the Mind

Today’s Gospel Text:  But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Be-el'zebul, the prince of demons"; 16 while others, to test him, sought from him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. 18 And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Be-el'zebul. 19 And if I cast out demons by Be-el'zebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. 20 But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace; 22 but when one stronger than he assails him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoil. 23 He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. 24 "When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he passes through waterless places seeking rest; and finding none he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' 25 And when he comes he finds it swept and put in order. 26 Then he goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first." Luke 11:15-26

Reflection: This is something that is wonderful and marvelous: even though some people who are sharp enough may be able to judge what is going on in our mind but may yet not conclusively arrive at the truth with the help of the later.

Your mind is your mind and no human beings can conclusively arrive at the deep inner secrets going on in your mind unless God reveals it and you cooperate with them. 

There are times when even we are not sure of what’s going on in our mind and many a times may never really know and sometimes others may point it out to us.

Sometimes God may reveal to us what is in our mind either directly, working through our conscience spurred on by the Holy Spirit or through others, yet we have the freedom to either say no or yes to what he has to say.

He is the creator of our minds and he knows the hidden secrets and recesses of our hearts and mind. No doubt the Psalmist will pray;  “Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?” Ps 139:7
 

One of the greatest truth about ourselves is our ability to deceive ourselves. We could think too high about ourselves too; many a times we do so by keeping other people as our standard for judging ourselves and thus fall short of the highest perfection.  

   

The Pharisee in the gospel was one such example; “God, I thank thee that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.” Luke 18:11-12

But blessed is the man who is willing to let the Spirit of God do the job to handle themselves and their deceptive conscience too. He does not deceive us, . 

The Psalmist would pray thus: “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! Ps 139:23-24

Prayer: Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! Ps 139:23-24

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