Today's reading from the Gospel of Mark continues with the events in Jesus' hometown of Nazareth, where the news of Jesus' healing ministry and his other miracles has caused a large crowd to gather at the house where He is staying and people are trying to figure out just what is going on with respect to the man they have known for so long who somehow has become so different. Jesus' family thinks He has lost His mind. Today we read that the scribes from Jerusalem think He is possessed by a demon-- in fact, the prince of demons, Belzebub. By simple logic Jesus demolishes that claim, pointing out that the prince of demons would never attack other demons, since that would be dividing his kingdom and ultimately lead to its destruction. Certainly the devil would not want his own kingdom to be destroyed. Not content with proving that His miraculous actions are not the result of demonic possession, Jesus next accuses the scribes of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, an unforgiveable crime, in that they are claiming that the Holy Spirit, which is the source of Jesus' miracles, is actually the devil. Pretty strong stuff!! Perhaps this condemnation might remind us to watch our step when we speak, especially when we use the name of the Divine. Blasphemy is the act of speaking in such a way as to show contempt or lack of reverence for God. I doubt that many of us have to worry too much about saying that the Holy Spirit is really the devil, but we might well examine our use of language when it comes to the name of God. How often do we throw God's name around, without even thinking about it? Or do the same with the name of Jesus? Do we tolerate that sort of thing in our kids or friends?In what we see on tv or the internet? Do we use God's name one way in church and a compleletely different way on the golf course or at the bar? How we speak about God is a sign of how we think about the Divine. The reason Jesus says blaspheming against the Holy Spirit is "unforgiveable" is NOT that God will not forgive it. God forgives all sins, if we seek forgiveness. The problem with blasphemy is that it conditions us to think about God in such a way that we don't think we need forgiveness. We don't think about asking for forgiveness. Blasphemy can become a habit that we don't even think it is a problem. And since we don't seek forgiveness, the sin isn't forgiven. Words matter. Watch how you use them.