Every Sin will be Forgiven

Gospel: Mk 3: 22–30

     Meanwhile, the teachers of the Law who had come from Jerusalem said, “He is in the power of Beelzebul: the chief of the demons helps him to drive out demons.”

     Jesus called them to him and began teaching them by means of stories or parables, “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a nation is divided by civil war, that nation cannot stand. If a family divides itself into groups, that family will not survive. In the same way, if Satan has risen against himself and is divided, he will not stand; he is finished. No one can break into the house of the Strong one in order to plunder his goods, unless he first ties up the Strong one. Then indeed, he can plunder his house.

     Truly, I say to you, every sin will be forgiven humankind, even insults to God, however numerous. But whoever slanders the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven: he carries the guilt of his sin forever.”

     This was their sin when they said, “He has an evil spirit in him.”

      

 St. Timothy was a companion and assistant of St. Paul the Apostle in his missionary work. Paul’s confidence in him could be seen in how Paul would call on Timothy to do special mission in forming and strengthening the churches he wanted to reach.

The first reading then is very apt at this time that Pope Francis calls on the Church to contribute to the New Evangelization through many different ways.

 St. Paul reminds everyone that gifts of “strength, love and good judgment” have been given us. These gifts are not to be kept in the dark but to be used to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These gifts are to inspire and give the faithful the necessary confidence in witnessing to the risen Christ who conquered death.

  Perhaps, we are asked to work with one another without fear in evangelizing the people we meet and work with. The “spirit of bashfulness” has no place at this time. What do we tell them? How do we tell them? When do we tell them about Jesus? There are groups in the Church that have started to do this. If we think we can contribute something in this area then maybe it is time to work and cooperate with them. Let us ask ourselves in our prayer, is God asking me to do this?