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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Dead Conscience

Today’s Gospel Text:  And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 He said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read?" 27 And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." 28 And he said to him, "You have answered right; do this, and you will live." 29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30 Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion, 34 and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" 37 He said, "The one who showed mercy on him." And Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise." Luke 10:25-37

Reflection: Maybe, somewhere before I have discussed this point, but it is important to discuss this again and again because we as humans being think that mere knowledge is enough to change us or change others.

There are numerous agencies that teach through awareness exercises and found fantastic results in changing groups of people into doing something or bringing about a change.  They have managed to create a great revolution by appealing to the imagination of peoples and transforming society.

Some have done it through manipulations and false promises, hiding certain facts from the gullible, who sometimes have been the majority, carried away by these intrigues.

When it comes to the spiritual truths of life it is the same story when people allow themselves to be carried away by falsity and evil, without realizing that they have been taken for a ride. Membership and coffers are often the animating factors in such motivation. 

 

Can mere awareness exercises change people? Possibly, sometimes it may take years if they appeal to their imagination and there are  strong motivating factors.

What happens if: 
1) a person is in severe bondage of sin and lethargy, lacking the ability to change 
2) or what happens if a person knowing the truth still doesn’t want to change 
3) or is self deceived to relate mere knowledge with change?

There is hope for the above two factors but the third kind, which was manifested by the lawyer who posed the question to Jesus, is the worst form of disease, often steeped in pride  and ambition. The symptom of which is seen in the flaunting of ones knowledge and intellectual prowess but hidden behind a corruption of deadness.

Am I the knowledgable type in Christian doctrine and yet lacking virtue?

Prayer: Lord, by the working of your Holy Spirit, help me see the corruption of sin and deadness in me, so that I may change walk in your life.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us