Friday October 10, 2025

Luke 11:15-26

When Jesus had cast out a devil, some of the people said, ‘It is through Beelzebul, the prince of devils, that he casts out devils.

I know this is unrelated but I want to take a moment to hold dear to my heart all those who have had angel babies. As a man I feel ill equipped to talk about miscarriages or still borne. I feel double ill/ equipped because this is an experience we have never had as a couple. But it was during this month 13+ years ago when the doctor told us that the child we have now was going to be a miscarriage. There was a complication, the doctor said, and this miscarriage has began. We were devastated, helpless. I looked at Mary Ann and said, then we will pray through this. I summoned the prayer warriors at Rabbouni and we prayed this child to full term. Most of you remember our struggle, you remember praying us through pregnancy.

Since then I have come to know how difficult and lonely this experience can be. There is a grieving that women and men go through. Please say a prayer today for all those who have had this experience as part of their life journey.

This gospel passage we have today has been part of our lived experience. Tell me this: Have you ever found it difficult to accept the good that someone else has done because you don’t like their politics? Some people in Our Lord’s time could never ever give him credit. They would seize on something wrong he had done like helping someone on a Sabbath. Their hatred of him, his style, maybe his politics blinded them. I think the church should have some non-Catholics as saints. Imagine a St Nelson Mandela, a St Martin Luther King Jr or a St. Billy Gram.

Be open to God’s action today coming to you from places you would not expect.