OCULI: Homily

“THE STRONG GOD/MAN”

Saint Luke 11. 14-28

OCULI: 3 March Anno Domini 2013

Father Jay Watson SSP

In The + Name of Jesus

    “That he who by a tree once overcame might likewise by a tree be overcome.” Through the devil’s evil work Adam was overcome and cast out of the garden, overcome, and stripped of his armor of light—the created righteousness.

   Beelzebub is the king of this world. This prince of the air though a master of mammon is also a liar and murderer from the beginning. Even Pharisees knew that the devil was evil and desired evil things. Would that all modern day Christians also understand the deadly nature of the serpent.

   C.S. Lewis once reiterated a famous statement of logic in regards to Jesus: Christ is either mad, bad, or God, i.e. He is either: liar, lunatic, or Lord.

   Clearly His enemies thought he was a liar and a bad man in league with demonic forces.  They recognized His power and authority for He was doing marvelous things.  But rather than use these signs the way God meant them to be used, as a miraculous indication that Messias had arrived, that John the Baptist was correct, and that The Kingdom of Heaven was in their midst, they opted to reject the Nazarene’s goodness and claim he was an evil imposter—a devilish one at that!

   What about you? Who do you say that He is? What do your actions indicate about your tongue’s confession? We “believe, TEACH AND CONFESS” according to the symbols…not just “believe.” Faith without works is dead.  “He that is not with Me is against Me.”

   Yes Jesus cast out a devil which was “dumb” and hence held the sufferer in the chains of silence. The Lord opened that mans mouth by driving out the devil, and thus the man could say “my mouth shall show forth Thy praise.” Either Christ is a charlatan and you should reject Him and be about with your own passions and toys; or, He is a puppet of Satan, and you would do well to try and crucify Him again—as well as join Judaism; or, the only other reality; Scripture’s reality, is that Jesus is God; Jesus is the Christ, the God/Man come in flesh and blood to overcome the strong man who is really the slimy snake and dung-filled dragon!

    Do you wonder about Jesus too? Do you doubt His mercy and goodness when you don’t have all your demands met; when your “grocery list” of expectations is not filled? Do you constantly argue with Christ and His Mysteries? Do you besmirch your Holy Baptisms by not walking in The Way and producing good fruit in accordance with the fresh green branch He has made you to be?  Are you aware that even a house cleansed by His Blood and Water may be forfeited? Are you but only swept clean and garnished but not filled with His presence? To be safe from the danger of constant re-infestation means to be IN Christ and to have Christ IN you. “He that is not with Me is against Me” says Christ.

  This is not a reference to your own works and energies, but an exhortation to cling to the Shepherd Who has rescued you; to praise the Savior Who has exorcised + the dumb devil from you; to confess with the mouth He’s opened, the faith which He has placed into your re-born hearts. You can join indeed the un-named Saint in her correct and truthful salute: “Blessed is the womb that bare Thee, and the paps which Thou hast sucked,” for to do so is to join Saint Elisabeth and the Church in Spirit-wrought exclamation of Grace showering mercy.  

   For the Lord’s answer is the only answer: “YES, or “yea,” but, or, rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.”

   The Word created all that is, and you as well. The Word became flesh and dwells among you. The Word satisfied the burdens and demands of the Lord that the Law be kept. The Word suffered and died on Calvary to propitiate and expiate (atone) for all your sin. The Word rose again on the Third Day. The Word ascended to fill all things. The Word this day fills the chalice and ciborium by His Sacramental presence—through His words; The Verba.  All these actual givings are by, through, from, and IN Christ Jesus your Lord.

   “Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it—receive it” Today this Word is fulfilled in your presence and you are filled.

In The Name of The Father and of The + Son and of The Holy Ghost