Daily Readings - Thu Mar 16 2023
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
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful messages that invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and our response to His call. The first reading from Jeremiah paints a vivid picture of a people who have turned away from God, refusing to listen to His voice and instead following their own desires. This rejection leads to a breakdown in their relationship with God and a failure to live according to His will. The Gospel, on the other hand, presents Jesus performing a miracle by healing a mute man possessed by a demon. While the crowd is amazed, some question the source of His power, attributing it to Beelzebub rather than recognizing it as a work of God. Jesus responds by emphasizing the unity of God's kingdom and challenging those who doubt Him to consider the truth of His mission.
The context of these readings is deeply rooted in the human struggle to trust and obey God. Jeremiah speaks to a people who have been given every opportunity to follow God but have consistently chosen their own path, leading to division and suffering. In the Gospel, Jesus confronts the skepticism of those who refuse to see the divine authority behind His actions. Both readings highlight the tension between God's invitation to relationship and humanity's tendency to resist or misunderstand it.
These readings call us to examine our own lives. Are we like the Israelites in Jeremiah's time, ignoring God's voice and going our own way? Or are we like the crowd in the Gospel, quick to doubt or misattribute the works of God? Jesus reminds us that His power is not from some false source but from the finger of God, and He calls us to be with Him, not against Him. In our daily lives, this means choosing to listen to God's voice, even when it challenges us, and trusting in His plan, even when we don't fully understand it. The moral lesson here is clear: faith and obedience are essential for living in harmony with God and for allowing His kingdom to take root in our hearts. Let us strive to be people who not only hear God's word but also act on it, living as faithful disciples in a world that often resists His truth.