Both the reading from Hebrews and today’s Gospel deal with God’s judgment and the salvation of souls. In the First Reading we hear of Christ’s new covenant with mankind, that we no longer need to make yearly sacrifices to ensure our salvation. God, in His love for us, became man and offered His own blood for the eternal salvation of souls. In Christ’s new covenant we are able to share in His death and resurrection. The author of Hebrews reminds us, “Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.” Christ’s death allows hope to reign in the world, just as our Gospel acclamation states, “Our Savior, Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel”. The resurrection is the Good News and it is through God’s love for His creation that we are able to share in that Good News!
In the Gospel, the scribes who see Christ casting out demons accuse Christ of being possessed by Satan, thereby denying His goodness: “By the prince of demons he drives out demons”. Jesus’ rebuttal is pretty simple; He tells the Pharisees that it would not make sense for Satan to drive out his own demons, all that would do is weaken Satan’s power for “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.” That is applicable to not only Satan but also to those who wish to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. When the Body of Christ is divided, when we lack charity and fail to love our brothers and sisters in Christ, we lose sight of our ultimate end–Heaven! If we are not consistently, actively seeking Heaven, we run the risk of falling into the sin of unbelief.
These readings seem appropriate today, the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. As we pray for the protection of all unborn children and as we mourn for the all those lost to abortion, we can remind ourselves that hope reigns in our world.
Tanto la lectura de Hebreos como el Evangelio de hoy se tratan del juicio de Dios y de la salvación de las almas. En la Primera Lectura escuchamos de la nueva alianza de Cristo con la humanidad, que ya no es necesario hacer sacrificios anuales para asegurarnos la salvación. Dios, en su amor por nosotros, se hizo hombre y ofreció su propia sangre para la salvación eterna de las almas. En la nueva alianza de Cristo podemos compartir Su muerte y resurrección. El autor del libro a los Hebreos nos recuerda: “Cristo se ofreció una sola vez para quitar los pecados de todos. Al final se manifestará por segunda vez, pero ya no para quitar el pecado, sino para la salvación de aquellos que lo aguardan y en él tienen puesta su esperanza.” La muerte de Cristo permite que la esperanza reine en el mundo, como dice nuestra aclamación evangélica: “Nuestro Salvador, Jesucristo, ha destruido la muerte y ha sacado a la luz la vida por el Evangelio”. ¡La resurrección es la Buena Nueva y es a través del amor de Dios por Su creación que podemos compartir esa Buena Nueva!
En el Evangelio, los escribas que ven a Cristo expulsando demonios acusan a Cristo de estar poseído por Satanás, negando así su bondad: “Este hombre está poseído por Satanás, príncipe de los demonios, y por eso los echa fuera”. La refutación de Jesús es bastante simple; Les dice a los fariseos que no tendría sentido que Satanás expulsara a sus propios demonios, todo lo que haría sería debilitar el poder de Satanás porque “si un reino está dividido en bandos opuestos no puede subsistir.” Eso no se aplica solo a Satanás sino también a aquellos que desean entrar al Reino de los Cielos. Cuando el Cuerpo de Cristo está dividido, cuando nos falta caridad y no amamos a nuestros hermanos y hermanas en Cristo, perdemos de vista nuestro fin último: ¡el cielo! Si no buscamos el Cielo de manera constante y activa, corremos el riesgo de caer en el pecado de la incredulidad.
Estas lecturas parecen apropiadas hoy, Día de Oración por la Protección Legal de los Niños No Nacidos. Mientras oramos por la protección de todos los niños no nacidos y mientras nos lamentamos por todas los niños perdidos por el aborto, podemos recordarnos que la esperanza reina en nuestro mundo.
Dakota lives in Denver, CO with her husband, Ralph, and their two sons, Alfie & Theophilus. She is the Dean of Enrollment Management for Bishop Machebeuf High School where her husband also teaches. You can find Dakota at the zoo or a brewery with her family or with her nose in a book at home. For more of Dakota’s writing check out https://dakotaleonard16.blogspot.com/
Feature Image Credit: ArqTi, cathopic.com/photo/1325-luz-signo-de-fe
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Kate Taliaferro is an Air Force wife and mother. She is blessed to be able to homeschool, bake bread and fold endless piles of laundry. When not planning a school day, writing a blog post or cooking pasta, Kate can be found curled up with a book or working with some kind of fiber craft. Kate blogs at 
Susan Ciancio has a BA in psychology and a BA in sociology from the University of Notre Dame, with an MA in liberal studies from Indiana University. For the past 19 years, she has worked as a professional editor and writer, editing both fiction and nonfiction books, magazine articles, blogs, educational lessons, professional materials and website content. Thirteen of those years have been in the pro-life sector. Currently Susan freelances and writes weekly for HLI, edits for American Life League, and is the executive editor of Celebrate Life Magazine. She also serves as executive editor for the Culture of Life Studies Program—an educational nonprofit program for K-12 students. You can reach her at 
Christine Hanus currently lives in Upstate, NY. Though she enjoys writing and her work as a catechist, Christine is primarily a wife, mother, and more recently, grandmother!
Mike Karpus is a regular guy. He grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, graduated from Michigan State University and works as an editor. He is married to a Catholic school principal, raised two daughters who became Catholic school teachers at points in their careers, and now relishes his two grandchildren, including the older one who is fascinated with learning about his faith. He also has served on a Catholic school board, a pastoral council and a parish stewardship committee. He currently is a lector at Mass, a Knight of Columbus, Adult Faith Formation Committee member and a board member of the local Habitat for Humanity organization. But mostly he’s a regular guy.
Kathryn Mulderink, MA, is married to Robert, Station Manager for Holy Family Radio. Together they have seven children (including Father Rob), and seven grandchildren. She is President of the local community of Secular Discalced Carmelites and has published five books and many articles. Over the last 30 years, she has worked as a teacher, headmistress, catechist, Pastoral Associate, and DRE, and as a writer and voice talent for Catholic Radio. Currently, she serves the Church by writing and speaking, and by collaborating with various parishes and to lead others to encounter Christ and engage their faith. Her website is 
Tami Urcia grew up in Western Michigan, a middle child in a large Catholic family. She spent early young adulthood as a missionary in Mexico, studying theology and philosophy, then worked and traveled extensively before finishing her Bachelor’s Degree in Western Kentucky. She loves tackling projects, finding fun ways to keep her little ones occupied, quiet conversation with the hubby and finding unique ways to love. She works at for Christian Healthcare Centers, is a guest blogger on 
J.M. Pallas has had a lifelong love of Scriptures. When she is not busy with her vocation as a wife and mother to her “1 Samuel 1” son, or her vocation as a public health educator, you may find her at her parish women’s bible study, affectionately known as “The Bible Chicks.”
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