The Third Sunday In Lent The Gospel Luc. 11. v.14 Wednesday Meditation


GOSPEL St. Luke, 11. 14-28 
AT THAT TIME Jesus was casting out a devil, and the same was dumb. And when He had cast out the devil, the dumb spoke, and the multitudes were in admiration at it. But some of them said: He casteth out devils by Beelzebub, the prince of devils. And others, tempting, asked of Him a sign from heaven. But He, seeing their thoughts, said to them: Every kingdom divided against itself shall be brought to desolation, and house upon house shall fall. And if Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because you say that through Beelzebub I cast out devils. Now if I cast out devils by Beelzebub, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore, they shall be your judges. But if I by the finger of God cast out devils, doubtless the kingdom of God is come upon you. When a strong man armed keepeth his court, those things are in peace which he possesseth. But if a stronger one than he is come upon him and overcome him, he will take away all his armor wherein he trusted, and will distribute his spoils. He that is not with Me is against Me: and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through places without water, seeking rest: and not finding, he saith: I will return into my house whence I came out. And when he is come, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then he goeth and taketh with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and entering in they dwell there. And the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. And it came to pass, as He spoke these things, a certain woman from the crowd, lifting up her voice, said to Him: Blessed is the womb that bore Thee, and the paps that gave Thee suck. But he said: Yea rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God, and keep it.

Wednesday

It is here to be noted that although the man was dumb and deaf as is expressed in Saint Mark and by probability blind and was cured of all:yet there is no mention made of his restoring to any but only his speech in these words, and the tie or bond of his tongue was loosed, and he spake aright.

Whereby it is signified unto us, that all the diffcultly is for a sinner, especially if he be a heinous and inveterate sinner, to overcome the devil so much as to go to confess his sins, in the Sacrament of Penance, which once being done he will easily be brought to see, and hear those things that are for his souls health.

Many there are that see and hear, that is to say, that have knowledge enough, and will hear Sermons willingly enough; which yet cannot speak, that is to say, be induced to come to the Sacrament of confession, The reason of it. is this: it is a thing, more repugnant to our nature, then any other act of religion; and in this strong act of religion; and in this strong hold or Castle, the devil taketh up his dwelling; where unto our Savior Christ, immediately after he had dispossessed the devil out of this dumb man, alludeth, in these words: when a valiant armed man kept his hould or castle, all things are in peace which he possesseth: but when a stronger then he cometh upon him, he will take from him all his armour, and those things he trusted to, and distribute his spoils.

Oh how truly & properly is this done in the Sacrament of Penance.

How truly doth the devil keep the castle of our souls in possession, by hindering us from confession, not only for the natural difficultly thereof, which yet is his strongest weapon, but by diverse other pretenses: yet the grace of Giod, which is stronger then he, coming into our soulsm will expell him, by confession of their sins: and divide his spoils, to wit by making satisfaction for all that is past, and not only that, but furnish our souls with spiritual armor to keep out.

Wherefore humble and sorrowful confession of our sins, is our principal armor to expel him and keep him out of our souls: Let us open our mouths and hearts unto God in prayer desiring him we may have so much fortitude and power as to open them fully and freely to his priests, in the Sacrement of Penance, and that we may speak aright at this double man did and be be delivered from the devil as he was. 

A Plaine Path-way To Heaven Thomas Hill 1634


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