Divided Kiingdom

Then they brought to him 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

We live in a nation divided. We take side on political issues, we separate by economics, by gender and by many other things. We can often view our neighbors as our enemies, for no reason other than their race or language. The ones we don't understand we find very suspicious. And yet we hear clearly today, what we might see as an enemy or as evil, is most often a gift from God, an invitation to open ourselves up to new vision and new voices. 

Wondrous God, you give us sight and voices

to sing your praises and to speak of your love

you find and heal those who have gotten lost

and set them on the road which brings them home.

We human too often use our voice for scolding

we reprimand those who do not speak as we do

we see the stranger as a threat to our existence

despite the truth that you are the source of our lives.

Help us today to see with your loving eyes

help us to sing again in harmony with others

let us use our wills and our minds for justice

and let your love flow down like healing rain. Amen.