Monday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

Led By God’s Good Spirit

Other Celebrations for this Day:

Liturgical Cycle: A | Lectionary Cycle: I

Introduction

It is strange and really sounds like ill will when the Scribes ascribe the good that Jesus does, especially that he drives out demons, to the power of Satan, the prince of demons. Should they not have recognised that God’s Spirit was working in Jesus? In messianic times, the Jews expected the Spirit of God to overcome the spirits of evil, and in Jesus, the good Spirit was visibly active. We too have to make our option between God’s Spirit and the spirits of evil that make us sin. If we hear the word of God and act accordingly, we let God’s Spirit overcome evil in and around us.

Opening Prayer

God our Father,
you are the origin of all that is good.
Let our heart not be a house divided
between good and evil.
Send us your good Spirit
to enlighten and guide us,
to give us joy and strength
and to follow your Son wherever he leads us
on the road of goodness and service.
We ask you this in the name of Jesus, the Lord.

First Reading

2 Timothy 1:1-8

Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God
for the promise of life in Christ Jesus,
to Timothy, my dear child:
grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father
and Christ Jesus our Lord.

I am grateful to God,
whom I worship with a clear conscience as my ancestors did,
as I remember you constantly in my prayers, night and day.
I yearn to see you again, recalling your tears,
so that I may be filled with joy,
as I recall your sincere faith
that first lived in your grandmother Lois
and in your mother Eunice
and that I am confident lives also in you.

For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame
the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.
For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice
but rather of power and love and self-control.
So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord,
nor of me, a prisoner for his sake;
but bear your share of hardship for the Gospel
with the strength that comes from God.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8a, 10

R. (3) Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Give to the LORD, you families of nations,
give to the LORD glory and praise;
give to the LORD the glory due his name!
R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Alleluia Verse

See 2 Timothy 1:10

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Mark 3:22-30

The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said of Jesus,
“He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and
“By the prince of demons he drives out demons.”

Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables,
“How can Satan drive out Satan?
If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
And if a house is divided against itself,
that house will not be able to stand.
And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided,
he cannot stand;
that is the end of him.
But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property
unless he first ties up the strong man.
Then he can plunder his house.
Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies
that people utter will be forgiven them.
But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit
will never have forgiveness,
but is guilty of an everlasting sin.”
For they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

Prayers of the Faithful

 

REFLECTIONS

Mark 3:22-30

A Call to Hope and Trust

In this Jubilee Year of Pilgrims of Hope, the Gospel of Mark reminds us of the growing tension surrounding Jesus as He brings the Good News to the people. With every healing, teaching, and liberation, Jesus draws many to hope and freedom. Yet, opposition rises from religious authorities, relatives, and even bystanders who misunderstand or fear His mission. In these conflicts, we find a profound message for our journey as pilgrims of hope.

The religious authorities accuse Jesus of acting through Beelzebul, denying the clear evidence of His works. Their slander stems from fear—fear of losing control and their place of influence. In response, Jesus offers three powerful insights.

First, He compares their claim to a divided house, illustrating its absurdity. To attribute the healing and liberation He brings to evil is to deny the obvious truth. Second, Jesus presents the image of the strong man. He shows Himself as the stronger one who overcomes the powers of evil, freeing those bound by fear and sin.

This is the essence of hope: knowing that Christ’s strength is greater than anything that seeks to oppress or divide us. Finally, Jesus warns against the sin against the Holy Spirit—the refusal to accept God’s forgiveness by closing oneself to His grace. God is always ready to forgive, but we must open our hearts to receive it.

As pilgrims of hope, we are called to trust in Christ, the stronger one who liberates us. We must also examine our hearts: Do we resist the evidence of God’s love and power in our lives? Do we use our words to build up or to slander?

In this year of grace, let us journey with open hearts, ready to receive God’s forgiveness and share His hope with a divided and hurting world.

A Call to Hope and Trust - Youtube 

 

Mark 3:22-30

The fallacy of establishing peace through wars

The world believes that Satan can cast off Satan. This has been the logic of the world from the beginning. An eye for an eye is an expression of this logic. Do we not believe in casting out Satan with Satan when we use violence to heal violence?

Consider the reasons for wars, terrorism in different parts of the world, expulsions of the elderly from families, or even the daily occurrence of uttering cuss words against people or situations when things do not go as desired. These measures are adhered to because people have the false belief that they can destroy evil through war, establish peace through weapons and violence, resolve disputes by expelling trouble-shooters, or overcome frustrations by using cuss words.

We are convinced that such methods are effective! Ironically, such satanic wisdom, rather than destroying his kingdom, ensures that the devil remains indispensable. Let us not forget the words of Jesus in John 8:44: The Devil is “a liar and the father of lies.” He is the accuser. And today, he accuses Jesus of acting with the power of the king of the devil, Beelzebub. Accusations are the work of the devil. How often do we accuse people around us?

It is to such a world that Christ brings the “finger of God,” the Holy Spirit, who operates with a different logic, the logic of inclusive love. And to equate such interventions to satanic acts is blind, blasphemous, and denial of God.

The fallacy of establishing peace through wars - YouTube

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