A House Divided

Then they brought to Jesus a demoniac who was blind and mute; and he cured him, so that the one who had been mute could speak and see. All the crowds were amazed and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons, that this fellow casts out the demons.” He knew what they were thinking and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you. Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property, without first tying up the strong man? Then indeed the house can be plundered. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” Matthew 12:22-32 

A House Divided

They gave their lives so others might stand
so that the heart of the republic would flourish
their dying should never ever be in vain
their loss should never shame their families.

We forget the value of so many young ones
whose lives lay ahead and now are buried
of those who fought so that we could fight
our petty squabbles, our slight differences.

The poorest understand what is at stake
the cozy forget how easily we can lose
a hold on life, liberty and freedom
when compassion is gone we all forfeit.

Let us never forget how easily it crumbles
how short life is and just how grand
this easy laughter, this time in the sun
is a precious gift which other gave up for us.