Wednesday, September 28 : Saint Ambrose

“Every kingdom divided against itself is heading for ruin”. Because people were saying that he cast out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, Jesus wanted to show by these words that his kingdom is indivisible and eternal. Rightly, too, he answered Pilate: “My kingdom is not of this world” (Jn18,36). So those who do not put their hope in Christ but think that demons are cast out by the prince of demons, Jesus says, do not belong to an eternal kingdom… When faith is rent apart, can the divided kingdom stand?… If the kingdom of the Church is to endure for ever it is because its faith is undivided, its body single: “There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, through all and in all” (Eph 4,5-6). What sacrilegious stupidity! The Son of God took flesh to crush the evil spirits and snatch the prize from the prince of this world, he also gave power to men to destroy the evil one (cf. Lk 10,19)… yet some people call the power of the devil to their aid. Nevertheless, [as Luke says], it is the “finger of God” (11,20) or, as Matthew says, “the Spirit of God” (12,28) that casts out demons. By this we understand that the Kingdom of God is indivisible as a body is indivisible since Christ is God’s right hand and the Spirit seems like his finger… “For in Christ dwells the whole fullness of the deity bodily” (Col 2,9).

maronite readings – rosary,team