First Reading (Hebrews 9,15.24-28).
Reading the Letter to the Hebrews.
Brothers, Christ is the mediator of a new covenant. By his death he made amends for the transgressions committed in the course of the first covenant. And so those who are called are promised eternal inheritance. Jesus did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, the image of the true one, but into heaven itself, in order to appear, now, in the presence of God, on our behalf. And it was not to offer himself many times, like the high priest who, each year, enters the Sanctuary with someone else’s blood. For if that were so, he must have suffered many times since the foundation of the world. But it was now, in the fullness of time, that, once and for all, he appeared to destroy sin by the sacrifice of himself. Every man’s destiny is to die once, and then comes judgment. In the same way, Christ, offered once for all, to take away the sins of the multitude, will appear a second time, out of sin, to save those who wait for him.
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Gospel (Mark 3,22-30).
Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, the teachers of the Law, who had come from Jerusalem, said that he was possessed by Beelzebub, and that through the prince of demons he cast out demons. Then Jesus called them together and spoke to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, it cannot stand. If a family is divided against itself, it cannot stand. Thus, if Satan rises up against himself and divides himself, he will not be able to survive, but he will be destroyed. No one can enter a strong man’s house to steal his goods without first tying him up. Truly I tell you, all will be forgiven to those men, both their sins and any blasphemy they have spoken. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, but will be guilty of an eternal sin.” Jesus said this because they said: “He is possessed by an evil spirit.”
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, what a joy to be gathered together in this moment of reflection and communion. Today, the Scriptures speak to us about profound and challenging themes. These are words that invite us to rethink our lives, our faith and the path we are taking. Let’s let ourselves be guided by the divine light that shines in today’s passages, so that, in the end, we can leave here stronger in our journey of faith.
Let us begin by reflecting on the First Reading, which comes to us from the Letter to the Hebrews. The author, inspired by the Holy Spirit, reveals to us an essential truth about the mission of Jesus Christ: He is the Mediator of the New Covenant, the one who, with His sacrifice, offers us salvation. “Christ, after offering himself once for all to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time, without having to do with sin, to save those who wait for him in faith” (Heb 9:28).
Let’s imagine an ancient scenario: a great king, known for his wisdom, has a castle surrounded by a fort. Inside this castle, the doors are locked, and to get to the king, everyone needs to pass through a single guarded gate. This gate, so safe and imposing, is like the veil of the temple, which separated the people from the presence of God. But the king, with his immense love, sends his son to open this gate, offering himself as the key that unlocks access for everyone. He does not come to judge, but to bring salvation. This son is Jesus Christ, whose death on the cross and resurrection offer us, poor mortals, the possibility of entering the presence of God, without fear, without barriers.
Christ’s sacrifice was once and for all. There is no need for further sacrifices, because He, with His precious blood, has done what no human being could do: He reconciles humanity with God. Jesus, being perfect, had no sin, but offered Himself to erase our sins. And now, an attitude of faith is expected of us. His second coming will be to complete the work of salvation, bringing to completion that plan of love that began on the cross.
Now, let’s reflect on the Gospel of Mark. In this passage, we see a critical moment in the life of Jesus. He is accused of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub, the prince of demons. What Jesus responds to this is a powerful lesson for us all. He says, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand” (Mk 3:24). Jesus teaches us that the fight against evil cannot be fought with evil. Sin can never overcome sin. Good can only overcome evil with good, with the strength of love, truth and justice.
This response from Jesus is also a warning. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, the conscious rejection of God’s action in our lives, is the unforgivable sin. Why is it unforgivable? Because if we refuse to listen to the voice of God, the action of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, we are closing ourselves off to the possibility of repentance and conversion. The Holy Spirit constantly calls us to good, truth and love. If we deny His action, we are moving away from the source of life and salvation.
Let’s think, then, about our daily lives. How often do we find ourselves in moments of conflict? How often are we tempted to respond to evil with more evil, to hate with more hate, to injustice with more injustice? Jesus teaches us that the Kingdom of God cannot be built with the weapons of evil. Evil can only be overcome with good. When we face difficulties, instead of giving in to the temptation to react impulsively or aggressively, we are called to act wisely, with patience, with forgiveness. It’s not easy, we know, but it’s the path that Jesus showed us. Love, kindness and mercy are the weapons of the Kingdom of God.
Let us think of a gardener who takes care of his garden with care. He removes the weeds gently, preventing them from suffocating the plants he sowed with so much love. So is the Holy Spirit in our lives. He works patiently, removing sins and evil deeds, but never forces us. He always offers us the chance to choose the path of good, and it is our decision whether we will follow it or not. When we resist Him, we are allowing the weeds in our soul to grow and separate us from God.
And here’s the good news, brothers and sisters: we are never alone in this process. Christ’s sacrifice is the key that opens the door to reconciliation with God. He came not just to teach us how to live, but to give us the strength we need to follow His example. He gave us the Holy Spirit, who guides us, strengthens us and guides us so that we can live as true children of God.
Today, we are invited to reflect on these two realities: the redemptive work of Christ, which guarantees us salvation, and the call to live according to the Holy Spirit, who teaches us to overcome evil with good. The cross of Christ has already won, but we need to allow this victory to become real in our lives. This requires a daily choice. As on a battlefield, we need to be vigilant, ready to reject temptations and seek the light of God’s love.
But, my brothers and sisters, how can we apply all of this to our lives? The first step is to renew our faith in Christ. Believing that His sacrifice is sufficient for our salvation, and that, through Him, we have access to the Father. Secondly, we must welcome the action of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. This means being attentive to His inspirations, His callings, and acting in accordance with God’s will, even when it challenges us.
Let us also think about our relationships with others. How have we responded to the difficulties we face? Do we react with resentment and judgment, or do we seek to forgive, understand and offer the peace that Christ gave us? Our Christian life is not a theory, but a daily practice, a constant exercise of doing good, of choosing love, even when the world offers us the opposite.
Finally, Jesus reminds us that the Kingdom of God is built with small gestures of kindness, with fidelity in everyday life. He does not ask us to do great things, but to be faithful in what is small. If today we can give a smile, forgive an offense, help someone in need, we are already contributing to the construction of this Kingdom.
May we, then, live our faith with courage, with hope, with joy. May the sacrifice of Christ, who gave us salvation, and the Holy Spirit, who guides us towards good, always be the foundation of our life. May our response to God’s love be an unconditional yes, lived in every gesture, in every word, in every decision. Amen.
