Daily Readings - Thu Mar 28 2019
Jeremiah
23But on this matter I did instruct them, saying: Listen to my voice, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. And walk in the entire way that I have commanded you, so that it may be well with you24But they did not listen, nor did they incline their ear. Instead, they walked by their own will and in the depravity of their own wicked heart. And so, they went backward, and not forward25from the day when their fathers went forth from the land of Egypt, even to this day. And I have sent all my servants, the prophets, to you, throughout the day, rising at first light and sending them26But they have not listened to me, nor have they inclined their ear. Instead, they have stiffened their neck, and they have behaved worse than their fathers did27And so, you will speak to them all these words, but they will not listen to you. And you will call to them, but they will not respond to you28And you will say to them: This is the nation that has not listened to the voice of the Lord their God, nor accepted discipline. Faith has perished and been taken away from their mouth
Luke
14And he was casting out a demon, and the man was mute. But when he had cast out the demon, the mute man spoke, and so the crowds were amazed15But some of them said, "It is by Beelzebub, the leader of demons, that he casts out demons.16And others, testing him, required a sign from heaven of him17But when he perceived their thoughts, he said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself will become desolate, and house will fall upon house18So then, if Satan is also divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebub that I cast out demons19But if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your own sons cast them out? Therefore, they shall be your judges20Moreover, if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then certainly the kingdom of God has overtaken you21When a strong armed man guards his entrance, the things that he possesses are at peace22But if a stronger one, overwhelming him, has defeated him, he will take away all his weapons, in which he trusted, and he will distribute his spoils23Whoever is not with me, is against me. And whoever does not gather with me, scatters
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of listening to God and the consequences of rejecting His will. In the first reading from Jeremiah, we hear a prophet lamenting the Israelites' stubborn refusal to follow God's commandments. Despite God's repeated calls to obedience, they chose to follow their own desires, leading to their downfall. This passage serves as a reminder of the importance of faithfulness and the dangers of spiritual complacency.
In the Gospel, Luke presents Jesus facing accusations that His miracles are the work of Beelzebub, the leader of demons. Jesus counters this by pointing out the illogic of a divided kingdom and challenges His accusers to consider the true source of His power. He emphasizes that His works are done through the power of God, signaling the arrival of the kingdom of God. This passage highlights the spiritual warfare that Jesus engages in and the need for discernment in recognizing God's work in the world.
Both readings connect through the theme of spiritual discernment and the consequences of rejecting God. Jeremiah's prophecy warns against the collective failure to listen to God, while Luke's Gospel illustrates individual spiritual blindness. Together, they call us to be attentive to God's voice and to avoid the divisions that result from rejecting His truth. In our daily lives, we are encouraged to seek unity in faith and to recognize the transformative power of God's presence. Let us strive to align our wills with God's, embracing His grace and avoiding the pitfalls of spiritual division.