The Twelve are round Him. Thus discourseth He
Teaching the people. 'Lo, how can it be,
Satan should cast out Satan? Were not he
Thenceforth divided? So that fatally,
As a riven house must fall, so fall would he.
'He that the house would enter, must not he
First bind the Strong Man that shall plundered be?
He who the Strong can bind alone is He
Who may the same cast out. Yea, verily,
He who will Satan bind must stronger be.
'All sin, I say, shall be forgiven: yea,
And many a sin of very blasphemy
Shall unto untaught men forgiven be:
But, who blasphemes God's Holy Spirit, he
Ne'er shall forgiveness find, eternally.'
'And such indeed was that dread blasphemy: '
Thus addeth the Evangelist; for see,
Whom they blasphemed, the Holy Ghost was He
Who filled the Soul of Jesus gloriously,
And wrought those deeds of pure Divinity.
The Son of Man Himself, in truth, might be
Dishonoured and despised; lo, therefore He
Was come to do the Father's Will, and be
Rejected, scorned, reviled: but verily,
Not so the Spirit may dishonoured be.
Then was it rumoured, at the door might be
His Kinsmen with His Mother. Well knew He
Their purpose, and her sweet anxiety.
To Him report the people: 'Verily,
Thy Mother and Thy Brethren seek for Thee.'
Them answereth He in all serenity,
Made milder for His late severity:
'Who be My Mother and My Kinsfolk? - See,
Alone who doth My Father's Will, is he
That may My Mother, Brother, Sister be.
- text taken from Mary: The Perfect Woman, by Emily Mary Shapcote