Strong Man
Thursday of the Third Week of Lent
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Luke 11:14-23 - Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed. Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “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? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
There are many ways not to be with Jesus: someone could flat-out reject Him; someone could accept Him as a teacher or leader but not as God; someone could believe He is God but choose not to follow Him. As Catholics, we are probably most likely in danger of the last option—we may believe He is God, but we may often fail to allow that belief to affect our lives.
There is only one way to be with Jesus. That is, to both believe in Him and to choose to follow Him and to live with Him. Jesus doesn’t say, “Whoever is not with me is just fine.” He does say, “Whoever is not with me is against me.” If we want to be with Jesus, and not against Him, we must be where He is. We will be where Jesus is if we are doing three major things: receiving the Sacraments, praying daily, and living moral lives. Do we attend Mass each Sunday and go to Confession when needed? Do we pray each day? Do we avoid mortal sin and try to build virtue? Of these three areas (Sacraments, prayer, and the virtuous life) where are each of us weakest? How can our union with Jesus become stronger in these areas?
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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