"But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him,
he takes away the armor on which he relied
and distributes the spoils.
Whoever is not with me is against me,
and whoever does not gather with me scatters." Lk 11:14-23

It is often understated how charismatic Jesus, our Lord, must have been. In this Gospel, as in many others, He addresses criticisms to His ministry with a relatable, rich, and intriguing visual. His touch evokes our natural imagination, as much as our supernatural imagination. “Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute,” and when the demons had gone out, the “crowds were amazed.” Yet, some people were still unmoved; they asked for more signs. It seems that regardless of Jesus’s creativity and impact, the greatest limiting factor to His reach was people’s response.

How do I respond to Jesus? It is not a matter of whether I ask for more signs. To ask for a sign or not to ask is dictated by circumstance and requires genuine discernment. The question of my response is deeper than that. It is this: Where is my heart? Do I clearly show this in my words and actions?

Jesus and His ministry relies so much on our ongoing heartfelt response. "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters."

Boy, what a calling!