Thursday of the Third Week of Lent
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
PsalmPS 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.
Verse Before
The GospelJL 2:12-13
Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart,
for I am gracious and merciful.
return to me with your whole heart,
for I am gracious and merciful.
GospelLK 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"
Peter the Apostles tells us, Our
adversary, the devil prowls the earth seeking the ruin of souls (1
Peter 5:8-9). The devil is opposed to God and he seeks to draw us away from
God's plan and will for our lives. God offers us grace (his merciful help and
strength) and protection (from Satan's lies and deception) if we are willing to
obey his word and resist the devil's lies and temptations. 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). The Lord offers
us the peace and security of his kingdom which lasts forever and which no other
power can overcome.
God's kingdom brings healing
and freedom from the destructive forces of sin and Satan
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 (Luke 4:1-13). 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' 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 (Luke 4:1-13). 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 among the Jews 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 possessions (all that you rely upon for livelihood, peace, and security) - 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 possessions (all that you rely upon for livelihood, peace, and security) - 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 Cosin)
A Daily Quote for Lent: God's
help for our complete conversion, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"When we transform our old life
and give our spirit a new image, we find it very hard and tiring to turn back
from the darkness of earthly passions to the serene calm of the divine light.
We must ask God to help us that a complete conversion may be brought about in
us." (excerpt from Commentary on Psalm 6,5)
THURSDAY,
MARCH 8, LUKE 11:14-23
Lenten Weekday
(Jeremiah 7:23-28; Psalm 95)
Lenten Weekday
(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).
TO KNOW: 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.
TO LOVE: Do I pray for God's power to protect my household from evil?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to oppose evil wherever I see it.
Optional Memorial of Saint John
of God, religious
John was born Juan Ciudad in Portugal. The greater part of his life was spent as a wanderer, working as a shepherd, soldier, laborer and bookseller. When John finally settled in Granada around the age of forty he underwent a conversion and he decided to devote the rest of his life to caring for those in need. Before he died on March 8th, his fifty-fifth birthday, his selfless dedication to the sick brought him to be known as "John of God". By faithfully following his example, his followers passed on John's way of serving: giving what he had, begging for those who couldn't, carrying those who could not walk, and converting both his patients and those who saw him work with them. This is called "Hospitality" and after five centuries it remains the charism of the Hospitallers, the order of Brothers formed after the death of Saint John of God. John was canonized in 1690 and is the patron saint of the sick, of hospitals and of nurses. His motto is: "Labor without stopping. Do all the good works you can while you still have the time."
Thursday 8 March
2018
St John of God.
Jeremiah 7:23-28. Psalm 94(95):1-2, 6-9. Luke 11:14-23.
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts —Psalm
94(95):1-2, 6-9.
Through God’s power, I drive out devils.
The challenge facing every person of faith—to be attuned to the
voice of God, even when evil comes around us—can seem overwhelming.
If we believe in God, then it is natural for us to want to thank
him, praise him and love him. Prayer is the very breath of our faith lives. Yet
in daily life the struggle between good and evil is always with us
and around us. When facing up to the problem of evil we are
tempted to harden our hearts, to stop listening to God, to stop living as we
know he wants us to live.
These are the times when we most need to listen to the words of
Jesus: ‘Love God with your whole heart. Trust in me. Love each other as I have loved
you.’
Saint John of God
Saint of the Day for March 8
(March 8, 1495 – March 8, 1550)
 |
| Statue of John of God in Rome | photo by Livioandronico2013 |
Saint John of God’s Story
Having given up active Christian belief while a soldier, John
was 40 before the depth of his sinfulness began to dawn on him. He decided to
give the rest of his life to God’s service, and headed at once for Africa where
he hoped to free captive Christians and, possibly, be martyred.
He was soon advised that his desire for martyrdom was not
spiritually well based, and returned to Spain and the relatively prosaic
activity of a religious goods store. Yet he was still not settled. Moved
initially by a sermon of Saint John of Avila, he one day engaged in a public
beating of himself, begging mercy and wildly repenting for his past life.
Committed to a mental hospital for these actions, John was
visited by Saint John, who advised him to be more actively involved in tending
to the needs of others rather than in enduring personal hardships. John gained
peace of heart, and shortly after left the hospital to begin work among the
poor.
He established a house where he wisely tended to the needs of
the sick poor, at first doing his own begging. But, excited by the saint’s
great work and inspired by his devotion, many people began to back him up with
money and provisions. Among them were the archbishop and marquis of Tarifa.
Behind John’s outward acts of total concern and love for
Christ’s sick poor was a deep interior prayer life which was reflected in his
spirit of humility. These qualities attracted helpers who, 20 years after
John’s death, formed the Brothers Hospitallers, now a worldwide religious
order.
John became ill after 10 years of service, but tried to disguise
his ill health. He began to put the hospital’s administrative work into order
and appointed a leader for his helpers. He died under the care of a spiritual
friend and admirer, Lady Ana Ossorio.
Reflection
The utter humility of John of God, which led to a totally
selfless dedication to others, is most impressive. Here is a man who realized
his nothingness in the face of God. The Lord blessed him with the gifts of
prudence, patience, courage, enthusiasm, and the ability to influence and
inspire others. He saw that in his early life he had turned away from the Lord,
and, moved to receive his mercy, John began his new commitment to love others in
openness to God’s love.
Saint John of God is the Patron Saint of:
Booksellers
Firefighters
Heart Patients
Hospitals
Nurses
Printers
Sick
Firefighters
Heart Patients
Hospitals
Nurses
Printers
Sick
LECTIO DIVINA: LUKE 11:14-23
Lectio Divina:
Thursday, March 8, 2018
Season of Lent
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
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."
3) REFLECTION
• Today’s Gospel is that of Luke. We
already meditated on the parallel text in 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 mute. The expulsion produced two different reactions. On the one
side, the crowd of people 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 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 tradition against the message of Jesus.
• Luke 11:17-22: Jesus’ answer is
divided into three parts:
1st part: Comparison
with a divided kingdom. (11:17-18a)
Jesus denounces the absurdity of the calumny of the Scribes. To say that he
casts out devils with the help of the prince of 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 Him because they did not know how
to explain the benefits which Jesus accomplished for the people. They were
afraid to lose their position of leadership. They felt threatened in their
authority before the people.
2nd part: through whom
do your own sons drive them out?
(11:18b-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. (11:21-22) Jesus compares the devil to a
strong man. Nobody, except a stronger person, can rob the house of a strong
man: Jesus is the strongest. This is why He succeeds in entering the
house and in getting hold of the strong man. He succeeds in driving out the
devils. Jesus seizes the strong man and now robs his house, that is, He liberates
the people 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 obvious 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
sentence: “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 from using 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 declarations seem to be contradictory, but they are not.
The sentence in today’s Gospel is directed to the enemies who have a prejudice
against Jesus: “Anyone who is not with Me is against Me. And anyone who does
not gather in with Me throws away.” The prejudice and the lack of acceptance
make dialogue impossible and break the union. The other sentence is addressed
to the disciples who thought they had the monopoly on Jesus. “Anyone who is not
against you is for you!” Many people who are not Christian practice love,
goodness, justice, many times in a much better way than Christians. We must not
exclude them. They are brothers and workers in the construction of the Kingdom.
We Christians are not Jesus’ owners. On the contrary, Jesus is our Lord!
4) PERSONAL QUESTIONS
• To be “with Me” or “against Me” can
become a complex question. At what point in belief or action would a person
move from being “with” to “against” Jesus and his message?
• “Do not stop him, because anyone who
is not against you is for you!” How does this apply to the various Christian
interpretations of Jesus’ message today?
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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