Thursday of the Third Week of Lent
Lectionary: 240
Lectionary: 240
Thus says the LORD:
This is what I commanded my people:
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.
But they obeyed not, nor did they pay heed.
They walked in the hardness of their evil hearts
and turned their backs, not their faces, to me.
From the day that your fathers left the land of Egypt even to this day,
I have sent you untiringly all my servants the prophets.
Yet they have not obeyed me nor paid heed;
they have stiffened their necks and done worse than their fathers.
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.
Say to them:
This is the nation that 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.
This is what I commanded my people:
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.
But they obeyed not, nor did they pay heed.
They walked in the hardness of their evil hearts
and turned their backs, not their faces, to me.
From the day that your fathers left the land of Egypt even to this day,
I have sent you untiringly all my servants the prophets.
Yet they have not obeyed me nor paid heed;
they have stiffened their necks and done worse than their fathers.
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.
Say to them:
This is the nation that 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.
Responsorial Psalm PS 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9
R. (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your
hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
“Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tempted me;
they tested me though they had seen my works.”
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
“Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tempted me;
they tested me though they had seen my works.”
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Gospel LK
11:14-23
Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute,
and when the demon had gone out,
the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed.
Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons,
he drives out demons.”
Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven.
But he knew their thoughts and said to them,
“Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste
and house will fall against house.
And if Satan is divided against himself,
how will his kingdom stand?
For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons.
If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul,
by whom do your own people drive them out?
Therefore they will be your judges.
But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons,
then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.
When a strong man fully armed guards his palace,
his possessions are safe.
But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him,
he takes away the armor on which he relied
and distributes the spoils.
Whoever is not with me is against me,
and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”
and when the demon had gone out,
the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed.
Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons,
he drives out demons.”
Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven.
But he knew their thoughts and said to them,
“Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste
and house will fall against house.
And if Satan is divided against himself,
how will his kingdom stand?
For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons.
If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul,
by whom do your own people drive them out?
Therefore they will be your judges.
But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons,
then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.
When a strong man fully armed guards his palace,
his possessions are safe.
But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him,
he takes away the armor on which he relied
and distributes the spoils.
Whoever is not with me is against me,
and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”
Meditation: "God's kingdom has come upon you"
What is the best protection which brings lasting security to our
lives? Scripture tells us that true peace and security come to those who trust
in God and obey his word. "Obey my voice and walk in all the way that I
command you, that it may be well with you" (Jeremiah 7:23). The struggle
between choosing to do good or evil, yielding to my will or God's will, God's
way or my way, cannot be won by human strength or will-power alone. Our enemy,
the devil, conspires with the world and our flesh, to lead us into hurful and
sinful desires.
Peter the Apostles tells us, Our adversary, the devil
prowls the earth seeking the ruin of souls (1 Peter 5:8-9). God offers
us grace and protection if we are willing to obey his word and resist the
devil. Because you have made the Lord your refuge, the Most High your
habitation, no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent. For he
will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways (Psalm
91:9-11)
Jesus' numerous exorcisms brought freedom to many who were
troubled and oppressed by the work of evil spirits. Jesus himself encountered
personal opposition and battled with Satan when he was put to the test in the
wilderness just before his public ministry. He overcame the evil one through
his obedience to the will of his Father. Some of the Jewish leaders reacted
vehemently to Jesus' healings and exorcisms and they opposed him with malicious
slander. How could he get the power and authority to release individuals from
Satan's power? They assumed that he had to be in league with Satan. They
attributed his power to Satan rather than to God.
Jesus answers their charge with two arguments. There were many
exorcists in Palestine in Jesus' time. So Jesus retorted by saying that they
also incriminate their own kin who cast out demons. If they condemn Jesus they
also condemn themselves. In his second argument he asserts that no kingdom
divided against itself can survive for long? We have witnessed enough civil wars
in our own time to prove the destructive force at work here for the
annihilation of whole peoples and their land. If Satan lends his power against
his own forces then he is finished. How can a strong person be defeated except
by someone who is stronger? Jesus asserted his power and authority to cast out
demons as a clear demonstration of the reign of God.
Jesus' reference to the finger of God points
back to Moses' confrontation with Pharoah and his magicians who represented
Satan and the kingdom of darkness (see Exodus 8:19). Jesus claims to be
carrying on the tradition of Moses whose miracles freed the Israelites from
bondage by the finger of God. God's power is clearly at work in the
exorcisms which Jesus performed and they give evidence that God's kingdom has
come.
Is Jesus the Master of your life?
Jesus makes it clear that there are no neutral parties. We are either for Jesus or against him, for the kingdom of God or against it. There are two kingdoms in opposition to one another - the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness under the rule of Satan. If we disobey God’s word, we open to door to the power of sin and Satan in our lives. If you want to live in freedom from sin and Satan, then your house - your life and all you possess - must be occupied by Jesus where he is enthroned as Lord and Savior. Is the Lord Jesus the Master of your home, heart, mind, and will?
Jesus makes it clear that there are no neutral parties. We are either for Jesus or against him, for the kingdom of God or against it. There are two kingdoms in opposition to one another - the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness under the rule of Satan. If we disobey God’s word, we open to door to the power of sin and Satan in our lives. If you want to live in freedom from sin and Satan, then your house - your life and all you possess - must be occupied by Jesus where he is enthroned as Lord and Savior. Is the Lord Jesus the Master of your home, heart, mind, and will?
"O Lord, our God, grant us, we beseech you, patience in
troubles, humility in comforts, constancy in temptations, and victory over all
our spiritual foes. Grant us sorrow for our sins, thankfulness for your
benefits, fear of your judgment, love of your mercies, and mindfulness of your
presence; now and for ever." (Prayer by John Cosi)
 Jesus or Satan |
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Thursday of the Third Week of Lent
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Luke 11:14-23
Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the
demon had gone out, the mute person spoke and the crowds were amazed. Some of
them said, "By the power of Beelzebub, the prince of demons, he drives
out demons." Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But
he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against
itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is
divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is
by Beelzebub that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by
Beelzebub, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be
your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then
the Kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards
his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks
and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes
the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather
with me scatters.”
Introductory Prayer: Lord
Jesus, as I prepare for Easter during this Lenten season, I turn to you once
again in prayer. I wish to see you with the eyes of faith. I wish to welcome
the salvation you came to give me and to accept it with a humble heart. Now,
during this time of prayer, I want to give everything over to you so that
your love and truth may direct my life.
Petition: Lord,
help me to accept with simple faith the reality of who you are.
1. All for God’s Glory: When
Christ works this simple miracle, the crowds are amazed. They are amazed at
what Christ has done, but surely they were also amazed at what the mute person
said. We do not know what was said, but it is likely that they were words
that glorified God in thanksgiving for his miracle. Christ bestows freedom by
loosening the tongue of the mute person so that he can glorify God his
creator. When Jesus frees the mute person from Satan – who does not want God
to be glorified and who wants to keep mankind in the chains of sin, it is so
that God will be glorified. In my life, do I seek to glorify God for the
wonders of his creation and all the good things he has done for me?
2. Truth or Lies: Jesus’
enemies could not deny the miracle he had just worked, but instead of
accepting his power to drive out evil spirits, they came up with an
accusation that it was Beelzebub who caused the miracle. Their envy gets the
best of their common sense. Envy always tries to find a way around the truth.
It asks for a sign or proposes a false accusation. Jesus counters envy’s
contorted reasoning with simple straightforward logic: “Every kingdom divided
against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house.” It
cannot be by the Beelzebub’s power that he drives out demons because that
would mean Beelzebub is driving out his own demons. Simple logic shows that
this is not so. Does my own faith help me to differentiate between lies that
I hear and the truth?
3. Jesus Challenges Satan’s Reign: The
strong man that Jesus speaks of is the devil. He has kept mankind under his
control since Adam and Eve’s fall. He has had nothing to worry about up to
now because he has been the strong man able to defend from all comers his
prize of corrupted human nature. But Jesus is stronger, and he has come to
attack the devil and win back from him what he has taken. He takes away his
armor of evil, hate, anger, lust and egoism. He redeems mankind from the
clutches of the evil one. Can I truly say that I set my faith in God and that
he truly brings about good despite the natural calamities or bad intentions
and actions of others, including the devil himself?
Conversation with Christ: Lord,
help me to accept your miracles in my life so that my life will give you
glory in my actions, words and thoughts. Do not let me be blind to the force
of your love in the world. I know you are stronger than Satan. I want to be
in your camp. I want to be rescued from the clutches of sin by the
omnipotence of your love.
Resolution: When I
am faced with a temptation, I will call to mind that Jesus is stronger than
Satan and he can give me the strength to reject the temptation.
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THURSDAY, MARCH 27, LUKE
11:14-23
Lenten Weekday
(Jeremiah 7:23-28; Psalm 95)(Jeremiah 7:23-28; Psalm 95)
Lenten Weekday
(Jeremiah 7:23-28; Psalm 95)(Jeremiah 7:23-28; Psalm 95)
KEY VERSE: "Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house" (v 17).
READING: Jesus was accused of casting out devils by the power of "Beelzebul" (Satan, a popular name for the master of demons). Jesus pointed out the absurdity of this accusation. He asked the crowd whether their own people performed exorcisms in the name of God or in Satan's name. If Satan (“adversary”) used his power to cast out demons, then Satan was working against himself and would eventually be defeated. Jesus was the "one mightier" prophesied by John the Baptist (Lk 3:16). Every word and act of Jesus' ministry was an attack on Satan's stronghold. Like Moses, Jesus power came from the "finger of God" (Ex 8:15). Whoever did not join Jesus in his opposition of evil assisted the adversary in his attempt to destroy God's realm.
REFLECTING: Do I pray for God's power to protect my household from evil?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me this Lent to oppose evil wherever I see it.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
Get Back Up
Oh, Father, too often I see the same patterns of sin in my life
and repeated over and over. I stumble and fall, confess my stubbornness and
pride to you, obtain forgiveness—only to fall into the same thing again. I
thank you for your patience toward the Israelites, and toward me!
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.Today’s readings stress the importance of listening, of being open. Lord, help me to still myself so that I can listen with my heart. Help me to slow down my breathing, my thoughts, my pace. Keep me open to others, to appreciate that the good they do serves your kingdom in ways I may never understand. Help me to be less judgemental. Thank you for your abiding love and constant gifts you grace me with. Thank you for the joy and peace you bring me - ‘Ring out your joy to the Lord.’ At times life isn’t easy, but I know you are even nearer to me then. ‘With all your heart turn to me, for I am tender and compassionate.’
March
27
Lazarus
Lazarus
Lazarus, the friend of Jesus, the brother of Martha and Mary, was
the one of whom the Jews said, "See how much he loved him." In their
sight Jesus raised his friend Lazarus from the dead.
Legends
abound about the life of Lazarus after the death and resurrection of Jesus. He
is supposed to have left a written account of what he saw in the next world
before he was called back to life. Some say he followed Peter into Syria.
Another story is that despite being put into a leaking boat by the Jews at
Jaffa, he, his sisters and others landed safely in Cyprus. There he died peacefully
after serving as bishop for 30 years.
A church
was built in his honor in Constantinople and some of his reputed relics were
transferred there in 890. A Western legend has the oarless boat arriving in
Gaul. There he was bishop of Marseilles, was martyred after making a number of
converts and was buried in a cave. His relics were transferred to the new
cathedral in Autun in 1146.
It is
certain there was early devotion to the saint. Around the year 390, the pilgrim
lady Etheria talks of the procession that took place on the Saturday before
Palm Sunday at the tomb where Lazarus had been raised from the dead. In the
West, Passion Sunday was called Dominica de Lazaro, and Augustine
tells us that in Africa the Gospel of the raising of Lazarus was read at the
office of Palm Sunday.
Comment:
Many people who have had a near-death experience report losing all fear of death. When Lazarus died a second time, perhaps he was without fear. He must have been sure that Jesus, the friend with whom he had shared many meals and conversations, would be waiting to raise him again. We don’t share Lazarus’ firsthand knowledge of returning from the grave. Nevertheless, we too have shared meals and conversations with Jesus, who waits to raise us, too.
Many people who have had a near-death experience report losing all fear of death. When Lazarus died a second time, perhaps he was without fear. He must have been sure that Jesus, the friend with whom he had shared many meals and conversations, would be waiting to raise him again. We don’t share Lazarus’ firsthand knowledge of returning from the grave. Nevertheless, we too have shared meals and conversations with Jesus, who waits to raise us, too.
LECTIO DIVINA:
LUKE 11:14-23
Lectio:
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Lent Time
1)
OPENING PRAYER
Lord our God,
many of us never had it so good
and so we have become smug and self-satisfied,
happy in our own little world.
God, may our ears remain open to your word
and our hearts to you
and to our brothers and sisters.
Do not allow us to forget you,
or to place our trust in ourselves.
Make us restless for you
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
many of us never had it so good
and so we have become smug and self-satisfied,
happy in our own little world.
God, may our ears remain open to your word
and our hearts to you
and to our brothers and sisters.
Do not allow us to forget you,
or to place our trust in ourselves.
Make us restless for you
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
2)
GOSPEL READING - LUKE 11, 14-23
He was driving out a devil and it was dumb; and it happened that
when the devil had gone out the dumb man spoke, and the people were amazed. But
some of them said, 'It is through Beelzebul, the prince of devils, that he
drives devils out.'
Others asked him, as a test, for a sign from heaven; but,
knowing what they were thinking, he said to them, 'Any kingdom which is divided
against itself is heading for ruin, and house collapses against house. So, too,
with Satan: if he is divided against himself, how can his kingdom last? - since
you claim that it is through Beelzebul that I drive devils out. Now if it is
through Beelzebul that I drive devils out, through whom do your own sons drive
them out? They shall be your judges, then. But if it is through the finger of
God that I drive devils out, then the kingdom of God has indeed caught you
unawares. So long as a strong man fully armed guards his own home, his goods
are undisturbed; but when someone stronger than himself attacks and defeats
him, the stronger man takes away all the weapons he relied on and shares out
his spoil.
'Anyone who is not with me is against me; and anyone who does
not gather in with me throws away.
3)
REFLECTION
• Today’s Gospel is that of Luke. We already meditated on the
parallel text of Mark (Mk 3, 22-27) during January.
• Luke 11, 14-16: The diverse reactions before the
expulsion of a devil. Jesus had expelled a devil which was dumb. The
expulsion produced two different reactions. On the one side, the crowd of
persons who remain astonished and surprised. The people accept Jesus and
believe in him. On the other side, those who do not accept Jesus and do not
believe in him. Among the latter, some said that Jesus cast out the devils in
the name of Beelzebul, the prince of devils, and others wanted a sign from
heaven. Mark says that it was a question of the Scribes who had come from
Jerusalem (Mk 3,22), who were not in agreement with the liberty of Jesus. They
wanted to defend the Tradition against the novelty of Jesus.
• Luke 11, 17-22: Jesus’ answer is divided into three parts:
1st part: Comparison with a divided kingdom. (vv. 17-18a) Jesus denounces the absurdity of
the calumny of the Scribes. To say that he casts out the devils with the help
of the prince of the devils means to deny the evidence. It is the same thing as
saying that water is dry, and that the sun is darkness. The Doctors of
Jerusalem slandered against him because they did not know how to explain the
benefits which Jesus fulfilled for the people. They were afraid to lose their leadership.
They felt threatened in their authority before the people.
2nd part: through whom do your own sons drive
them out? (
vv. 18b-20) Jesus provokes the accusers and asks: “”But if it is through
Beelzebul that I drive out devils, in whose name do your disciples drive them
out?” Let them respond and explain themselves! “If I drive out the devil
through the finger of God, then the Kingdom of God has indeed caught you
unawares”.
3rd part: when someone stronger than himself
attacks and defeats him, the stronger one takes away all weapons. (vv. 21-22) Jesus compares the devil to a
strong man. Nobody, except a stronger person, can rob in the house of a strong
man: Jesus is the strongest. This is why he succeeds to enter into the house
and to get hold of the strong man. He succeeds in driving out the devils. Jesus
seizes the strong man and now robs in his house, that is, he liberates the
persons who were under the power of evil. The Prophet Isaiah had used the same
comparison to describe the coming of the Messiah (Is 49, 24-25). This is why
Luke says that the expulsion of the devil is an evident sign that the Kingdom
of God has arrived.
• Luke 11, 23: Anyone who is not with me is against me. Jesus
ends his response with this phrase: “Anyone who is not with me is against me.
And anyone who does not gather in with me throws away”. On another occasion,
also regarding the expulsion of a devil, the disciples prevented a man to use
the name of Jesus to drive out the devil because he was not one of their group.
Jesus answered: “You must not stop him: anyone who is not against you is for
you!”. (Lk 9, 50). These two phrases seem to be contradictory, but they are
not. The phrase in today’s Gospel is said against the enemies who have a
preconception against Jesus: “Anyone who is not with me is against me. And
anyone who does not gather in with me throws away”. The preconception and the
lack of acceptance make dialogue impossible and break the union. The other
phrase is said for the disciples who thought they had the monopoly on Jesus.
“Anyone who is not against you is for you!” Many persons who are not Christians
practice love, goodness, justice, many times in a much better way than
Christians. We cannot exclude them. They are brothers and workers in the
construction of the Kingdom. We Christians are not the owners of Jesus. On the
contrary: Jesus is our Lord!
4)
PERSONAL QUESTIONS
• “Anyone who is not with me, is against me. And anyone who does
not gather in with me, throws away”. How does this take place in my life?
• “Do not stop him, because anyone who is not against you is for
you!” How does this take place in my life?
5)
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Come, let us cry out with joy to Yahweh,
acclaim the rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving,
acclaim him with music. (Ps 95-1-2)
acclaim the rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving,
acclaim him with music. (Ps 95-1-2)
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