In today's Gospel, Christ's family ("friends" in the Vulgate) comes to take him home, believing He is overwrought. This is dangerous stuff: Christ's family is suspicious He is unwell. It is alarming, even now. Prophets suffer terribly from this accusation yet the Evangelists bring it up fearlessly. The religious leaders then accuse Him of being possessed, by Beelzebub--the god of the Philistines the Jews deride as "Lord of the Flies" because of the blood on his statues. Christ refines it as "Satan," which means "accuser" or "enemy" in Hebrew.
Imagine the turmoil: Christ is performing miracles, making claims of divinity; His family comes to take Him home; the religious hierarchy say He is possessed. Yet the Evangelists seem quite comfortable with all of it. Then Christ counters with the "house divided" argument, then expands His points to include faith. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is incompatible with faith, thus it is incompatible with salvation.
Unforgivable.
Imagine the turmoil: Christ is performing miracles, making claims of divinity; His family comes to take Him home; the religious hierarchy say He is possessed. Yet the Evangelists seem quite comfortable with all of it. Then Christ counters with the "house divided" argument, then expands His points to include faith. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is incompatible with faith, thus it is incompatible with salvation.
Unforgivable.
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