24 January 2022 Mark 3:22-30
Monday of the 3rd Week in ordinary Time
UNFORGIVABLE BLASPHEMY
“ ….. but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven…”
What is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? This is deliberately closing hearts towards God and graces. I know who God is merciful, still I refuse to accept Him because of my pride. This is what Jesus said as ‘blasphemy against the Holy Spirit’ (Mk 3:29) or hardening of heart towards graces. If eyes are kept closed we cannot see and if ears are closed cannot hear. Similarly, if the heart is kept closed towards graces we cannot receive forgiveness of sins or healing.
In today’s gospel we find scribes committing such a sin of serious nature by calling Jesus ‘possessed’ and telling that he is practicing exorcism with the help of Beelzebul, prince of demons. They were too hardhearted to see the hands of God in Jesus’ miracles.
The growing cultures of the present world namely rationalization, self-righteous egoistic attitudes in spiritual matters. Amen.