March 3, 2024 - Oculi Sermon

Old Testament: Exodus 8:16–24
Old Testament: Jeremiah 26:1–15
Psalm: Psalm 136:1–16; antiphon: v. 26
Psalm: Psalm 4; antiphon: v. 8
Epistle: Ephesians 5:1–9
Gospel: Luke 11:14–28
Introit: Psalm 25:1–2, 17–18, 20; antiphon: vv. 15–16
Gradual: Psalm 9:19, 3
Tract: Psalm 123:1–3a

Jesus Overcomes the Strong Man
 
Jeremiah was charged with speaking evil when he spoke the Word of the Lord (Jer. 26:1–15). So also, Jesus is accused of doing evil when in fact He is doing good. He casts out a demon from a mute man so that he is able to speak (Luke 11:14–28). But some said Jesus did this by the power of Beelzebub, Satan. Like Pharaoh of old, their hearts were hard (Ex. 8:16–24). They did not recognize the finger of God, the power of the Holy Spirit at work in and through Jesus. Jesus is the Stronger Man who overcomes the strong man. He takes the devil’s armor of sin and death and destroys it from the inside out by the holy cross. He exorcizes and frees us by water and the Word. We were once darkness, but now we are light in Christ the Lord (Eph. 5:1–9). As children of light, our tongues are loosed to give thanks to Him who saved us.