Daily Readings - Thu Mar 08 2018
Jeremiah
23But this command I gave them: 'Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.'24But they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward.25From the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt to this day, I have persistently sent all my servants the prophets to them, day after day.26Yet they did not listen to me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck. They did worse than their fathers.27"So you shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you. You shall call to them, but they will not answer you.28And you shall say to them, 'This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the LORD their God, and did not accept discipline; truth has perished; it is cut off from their lips.
Luke
14Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled.15But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,"16while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven.17But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls.18And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul.19And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.20But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.21When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe;22but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil.23Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
Sermon
The first reading from Jeremiah speaks of a people who have turned away from God’s commandments and refused to listen to His prophets. Despite God’s repeated calls to walk in His ways and to trust in His guidance, the Israelites stubbornly followed their own desires and hardened their hearts. Jeremiah laments that faith has disappeared, and the people have become deaf to God’s voice. This passage serves as a warning about the consequences of spiritual rebellion and the importance of humility and obedience in our relationship with God.
In the Gospel, Jesus confronts the skepticism and hostility of those who question His authority. After healing a mute man possessed by a demon, some accuse Jesus of using the power of Satan to cast out demons. Jesus responds by exposing the absurdity of their accusation, pointing out that a divided kingdom cannot stand. He then emphasizes that His works are not of Satan but of the finger of God, demonstrating the arrival of the kingdom of God. Jesus makes it clear that neutrality is impossible: one must either be with Him or against Him.
Both readings remind us that our choices have spiritual consequences. Jeremiah warns us about the dangers of stubbornness and refusal to listen to God, while Luke’s Gospel challenges us to examine our allegiance to Christ. In our daily lives, we are constantly faced with decisions that require us to align ourselves with God’s will or to follow our own desires. Let us reflect on whether we are truly with Christ, actively gathering with Him through prayer, service, and fidelity to His teachings. May we not be like the Israelites of old, who turned away from God’s voice, but instead may we be strong in faith, trusting in His power and grace to overcome the spiritual battles we face.