3RD WEEK OF LENT
St. John of God, religious
Psalter: Week 3 / (Violet)
Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9
If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.
1st Reading: Jer 7:23-28
One thing I did command them: Listen to my voice and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in the way I command you and all will be well with you. But they did not listen and paid no attention. They followed the bad habits of their stubborn heart and turned away from me. From the time I brought their ancestors out of Egypt until this day I have continually sent them my servants, the prophets; but this stiff-necked people did not listen. They paid no attention and were worse than their ancestors. You may say all these things to them but they will not listen. You will call them but they will not answer. This is a nation that did not obey Yahweh and refused to be disciplined. Truth has perished and is no longer heard from their lips.
Gospel: Lk 11:14-23
One day, Jesus was driving out a demon, which was mute. When the demon had been driven out, the mute person could speak, and the people were amazed. Yet some of them said, “He drives out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the chief of the demons.” Others wanted to put him to the test, by asking him for a heavenly sign.
But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them, “Every nation divided by civil war is on the road to ruin, and will fall. If Satan also is divided, his empire is coming to an end. How can you say that I drive out demons by calling upon Beelzebul? If I drive them out by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive out demons? They will be your judges, then.
But if I drive out demons by the finger of God; would not this mean that the kingdom of God has come upon you? As long as a man, strong and well-armed, guards his house, his goods are safe. But when a stronger man attacks and overcomes him, the challenger takes away all the weapons he relied on, and disposes of his spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me, scatters.
Reflections
TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS
In the Scriptures, we read of incidents of God calling specific persons. Today, God speaks more to our hearts. But the call is no less real. Many religious men and women have heard this call in their hearts and have responded. There might be other calls apart from a call to a way of life. It might be an inspiration to leave an addiction, to repulse a temptation, to come back to righteousness, to help someone in need, to forgive someone, to ask forgiveness from someone, etc. The call is often so quiet that one can actually not hear it because of the noisy distractions one surrounds oneself with. It is a moment of grace and that is why we are exhorted “not to harden our hearts”. Instead we keep the ear of our hearts always open to such unexpected invitations. This requires a continuous state of MINDFULNESS, living each moment in watchful awareness. SPEAK LORD, YOUR SERVANT IS LISTENING!
Daily Reflection 2018
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Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL
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