Gospel in Art: He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons

The Arrest of Christ (Kiss of Judas), by Giotto di Bondone, fresco © Cappella Scrovegni, Padua

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 10 October 2025
Luke 11:15-26

At that time: When Jesus had cast out a demon, some of the crowd said, 'He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons', while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, 'Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armour in which he trusted and divides his spoil. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

'When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, "I will return to my house from which I came." And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.'

Reflection on the Fresco Painting

In today's Gospel we hear some people accuse Jesus of working with the powers of darkness and serving Satan. Instead of recognising the good he was doing, they twisted it and claimed it came from an evil source. To "demonise" others is sadly a very human temptation, one we see played out time and again across history, and often with tragic consequences. Think of how the Nazis demonised the Jews, and we all know what horrendous consequences that brought.

Jesus responds by saying that his works are done not by Satan's power but by the very finger of God. Every healing touch of Jesus was in fact God's own touch breaking into the world. Yet many could not, or would not, see it. They were blind to God's presence in their midst. We too can fall into that same blindness, failing to notice the quiet, ordinary ways God's hand is at work among us. Today's Gospel is thus a call to attentiveness: to look out for those simple gestures of kindness, healing, and presence that are nothing less than signs of God's kingdom moving among us. When we notice them, we recognise the Lord near at hand, and our response can only be thanksgiving.

Failing to recognise Jesus for who he truly was eventually led to his rejection and death. In our fresco from the Arena Chapel in Padua, Giotto di Bondone captures the raw drama of Christ's arrest. Painted between 1304 and 1306, The Kiss of Judas thrusts us into the chaos of the moment: a crowd surging forward with torches, spears, and halberds; Peter raising his hand in violent defence; soldiers pressing in on every side. At the centre, the drama crystallises in a single gesture: Judas pressing his body against Christ, his cloak wrapping around Jesus as he betrays him with a kiss. Christ's face is dignified and serene, Judas consumed is by malice.

Giotto di Bondone was commissioned to decorate the Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel) in Padua around 1303 by the wealthy banker Enrico Scrovegni. Enrico built the chapel beside his palace, partly as a family oratory and partly as an act of atonement, since his father had been notorious for usury. Between 1304 and 1306, Giotto covered the interior walls with a stunning fresco cycle narrating the life of the Virgin Mary and the life of Christ, culminating in a vast Last Judgment scene above the entrance. The chapel is an important milestone in the story of Christian Art as, Giotto broke away from the flatness of the medieval style, giving his figures weight, space, and real human emotion, paving the way for the Renaissance.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-11-15-26-2025/