Sunday Devotional: Jesus Spoke of Demons and Hell

Mark 9:38-43, 48

At that time, John said to Jesus,
“Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name,
and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.”
Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him.
There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name
who can at the same time speak ill of me.
For whoever is not against us is for us.
Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink
because you belong to Christ,
amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,
it would be better for him if a great millstone
were put around his neck
and he were thrown into the sea.
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.
It is better for you to enter into life maimed
than with two hands to go into Gehenna,
into the unquenchable fire…
where ‘their worm does not die,
and the fire is not quenched.'”

The above is the Gospel reading at Mass today.

Here are my questions to the U.S. Catholic Church:

1. How many priests, if any, will actually speak of demons, exorcism, and Hell in their homilies today? I haven’t heard a priest do that in years. Why is that? Jesus described Hell as a reality and spoke three times as much about Hell than he did on Heaven. (See here for all the biblical references to Hell.) Do you not believe the words of our Lord Jesus Christ?
2. Jesus condemns pedophiles and all who prey on children, so why is Belgian cardinal Godfried Danneels, who shielded priests accused of child sex abuse, a special appointee of Pope Francis to the upcoming and very important Synod on the Family? (Source)

Here’s my question to the Obama administration:

Jesus said “For whoever is not against us is for us.” That describes Syria’s Assad government, but does not describe the so-called Syrian “rebels,” who are anti-Christian radical Islamists, including members of Al Qaeda. So why are you hell-bent on overthrowing Assad, and aiding/training/funding the “rebels”?

Here’s my question to the government and people of Israel:

Jesus said he will reward “Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ.” Why is it that Christians, especially Evangelicals, unfailingly defend Israel and condemn any attack (including even criticism) on Israel and Jews, but I can’t think of even one occasion when Israel has spoken out to condemn persecution and slaughter of Christians. Not even a word of sympathy or empathy. Why is that?

May the peace and love of Jesus Christ our Lord be with you,

~Éowyn