“WARM WITH GOD’S LOVE”
Lenten Reflections
8thMarch 2018.
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THURSDAY, THIRD WEEK OF LENT
Reading 1: Jer 7:23-28 Jeremiah relates the sad story of the .disobedience of God’s Chosen People to his Law.
Res. Psalm: Ps 95:1-2, 6-9 Harden not your hearts, listen to his voice.
Gospel:Lk 11:14-23 Jesus rejects the accusation that he expels demons by Beelzebul and concludes that “he who is not with me is against me.”
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PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL, MAKE IT HEARD
The message this week is repeated over and over again; it seems that we are deaf and unresponsive, like all those who have been our ancestors in faith. So the Lord says yet again: “Listen to my voice; then I will be your God and you shall be my people. Walk in all the ways that I command you, so that you may prosper.” The prophet Jeremiah admonishes and announces destruction to the people who would not listen. They refused to hear and persecuted Jeremiah relentlessly, seeking to kill him so that they would not have to listen to his accusations any longer. God tells Jeremiah: “When you speak all these words to them, they will not listen to you either; when you call to them, they will not answer you.” God laments: “This is the nation which does not listen to the voice of the Lord, its God, or take correction. Faithfulness has disappeared; the word itself is banished from their speech.” The responsorial psalm calls out: “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.”
The Gospel speaks of a man who was mute as a result of a demon. When this demon was driven out by Jesus, the mute man spoke and many were amazed. Most likely this man was fully possessed by this demon and the oppression he experienced disabled his ability to even speak. Upon his release from this demonic influence, he spoke freely. Some are amazed with the miracle, others were dubious and accused Jesus of casting out devils by the power and name of Beelzebub, the prince of devils. Still others ignored what was happening and demand a sign from heaven. We can find ourselves in any of these categories, sometimes in more than one at the same time.
Though we may not experience demonic influence to the same degree, we are often hindered and oppressed by similar mute spirits. The evil one often tries to influence us in such a way that we are fearful of proclaiming the Gospel freely, sincerely and immediately to those who are in most need of the message God wants communicated to them. Jesus has complete power over all such spirits and will not hesitate to silence their influence over us if we let Him.
Prayer: Lord, at times I am given over to fear when You call me to speak Your words of love to those in need. Please free me, dear Lord, to be a holy instrument of Your Word. Amen.
Lenten Act: Write inspirational bible verses on Post-It notes and leave them at the desks of people who need inspiration. May the Word of God uplift them from their misery.