Is Your House Divided?

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Are we being tied up, in our society, within our very own culture?  Within our very own home?

Today’s reading from the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 3, verses 22-30 talks about a house divided and it gives this example:

“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 it continues . . .

“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.”

It begins in the home with our families, this unity that we need to stand against prevailing winds that come at us to “plunder” our homes.  If our families do not have a solid foundation set on God, we are in danger of collapsing in on ourselves.

The awesome news is that we can loosen the ties that bind us, as well as those that divide us, by focusing on Jesus.

Now you might say that is all good and well, a nice thought perhaps, but how does it help MY family?  How can leaning on Jesus help us financially, or emotionally, or however we are struggling?

My first thought is that leading your family in faith changes your whole perspective.  It brings hope and security into the picture.  Where you may be exhausted and feeling like giving up, focusing on Jesus changes everything.

I might be tempted to say that at first, but the fact is, I would only be partially correct, because leaning on Jesus isn’t simply a path to changing one’s perspective.  It is an ACTUAL movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives that changes us from within.  Not simply an intellectual, reasoned approach that motivates us, but an actual outpouring of grace that renews us.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (2003), “Grace is first and foremost the gift of the Spirit who justifies and sanctifies us.”

It goes on to explain that included in grace are the gifts of the Holy Spirit that “grant(s) us to associate with his work,” and enables us to participate in the salvation of others in growing the Body of Christ, the Church.

You see, when we lean on Jesus and we receive grace, we benefit, we receive favor from God.  These special graces are called “charisms” and they help build up the church.  They are for the common good.

This is so much more than having a change in attitude.  This genuine movement of the Holy Spirit in us, through the gift of grace freely given to us by God, allows us to keep our house unified and our hands free to serve.

It really is the only possible way that we can drive out Satan from our midst.  Jesus was accused of being possessed by Satan and that is when he gave the warning about the necessity of having a strong house, undivided, if we want to be saved from being plundered.

Whenever God works within us, we change, things change.  If you really want to make improvements in your life and that of your house, lean on Jesus.

Janet Cassidy
janetcassidy.blogspot.com
janetcassidy.blubrry.net

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