Sin Against the Holy Spirit
January 27, 2025 - Monday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
Mark 3:22-30
In today's Gospel, the experts in the law coming all the way from Jerusalem are spreading the rumours among the local population of Galilee that Jesus is possessed by an unclean spirit. What is happening here? Why was — and still is — it so difficult to accept that God brings salvation to the world through one person, Jesus of Nazareth?
While few today claim Jesus was possessed or insane, many still reject the salvation God offers through the Gospel. Some dismiss Jesus as a figure of the past, comparing Him to Socrates or Confucius. In certain countries, proclaiming Jesus as Lord can lead to persecution or imprisonment. Others deny that Jesus of Nazareth ever existed, rejecting even the historical foundations of faith.
So why did the scribes make such a shocking accusation? Were they threatened by Jesus’ growing influence, or were they themselves under the sway of dark forces? The Hebrew word for “accuser” is satan, and their actions echo his destructive mission to sow doubt and division.
What is striking is Jesus’ calm and reasoned response. He invites them to think logically. First, if He were casting out demons by the power of the prince of demons, Satan’s kingdom would be divided against itself—a clear contradiction. Second, His actions speak for themselves. As Peter later proclaims after the Resurrection:
“God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and He went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him” (Acts 10:38).
Failing to see the power of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ deeds and attributing them to evil amounts to committing the sin against the Holy Spirit.
What is this sin? The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains:
“There are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept His mercy by repenting rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit. Such hardness of heart can lead to final impenitence and eternal loss” (CCC 1864).
This is where the scribes were heading. By closing their hearts to God’s mercy and grace, they risked eternal separation from Him.
How about us? Are we open to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, or do we resist His guidance out of pride, fear, or doubt? Let us pray for hearts that remain humble and receptive, ready to accept God’s boundless mercy and share it with others. May we never reject the salvation God offers, but instead, live as witnesses to the Spirit’s power to transform lives.