Gospel: Luke 11: 15-26
Crowds are irrational groupings of people moved solely by emotion. At any given time a crowd may randomly be right about an issue, but they would not know why and could not reliably be trusted to be so in the future. Crowds believe all sorts of wild things, from the various slogans of political movements to unwarranted beliefs about sports teams. Crowds are important to those who control such movements and franchises in wielding power and controlling the populace.
Today's crowd shouts that Jesus casts out demons by the power of Satan. Such an assertion is irrational, as Jesus' response to them shows. Jesus may convince a few people from the crowd to peel away and follow him, but overall the makeup of a crowd will remain largely the same. The crowd will not listen to reason. Their wild assertions become tenets of a creed built on emotion, in this case emotion against Jesus, and it will use whatever slogan, whatever allegation its handlers can create that will stick against Jesus.
Occasionally we will see the disciples swayed by the crowds. They have to decide whether to join the crowd or to follow Jesus. The same holds true for us today. We can allow ourselves to join the rabble and emotion of crowds, following all sorts of ideologies and positions. Or we can remain fixed on the person of Jesus, imitating his way of life - the way of mercy, loving kindness, and service to others that brings healing, deliverance, and nourishment to all we encounter.
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