Daily Catholic Mass Readings for March 11, 2021
First Reading: Jeremiah 7.23-28
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.
Psalm 95
1Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!2Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!3For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.4In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also.5The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.6Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!7For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice,8do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,9when your fathers put me to the test and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.10For forty years I loathed that generation and said, "They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways."11Therefore I swore in my wrath, "They shall not enter my rest."
Gospel: Luke 11.14-23
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
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful messages that invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and our commitment to His will. The first reading from Jeremiah 7:23-28 expresses God's sorrow over the Israelites' disobedience. Despite His repeated calls through prophets, they turned away, following their own desires and suffering the consequences of lost faith. This passage reminds us of the importance of listening to God's voice and adhering to His covenant, lest we drift away from His grace.
The Gospel from Luke 11:14-23 shifts our focus to Jesus, who demonstrates His authority by healing a mute man possessed by a demon. While the crowd is amazed, some accuse Jesus of using demonic power, prompting Him to explain that a divided kingdom cannot stand. Jesus emphasizes that His works are by God's power, signaling the arrival of the kingdom of God. He uses the metaphor of a strong man overcome by a stronger one, illustrating His triumph over Satan. Jesus concludes with a clear message: neutrality in faith is impossible; we must choose to be with Him.
These readings, though from different times, share a common theme—commitment to God's will. Jeremiah warns against the consequences of turning away, while Luke presents Jesus as the victor over evil, urging us to align with His kingdom. In our daily lives, we face choices that test our faith. We must actively seek God's will through prayer and discernment, avoiding spiritual complacency. Let us recommit to following Jesus, trusting in His strength to overcome life's challenges, and remember that true faith requires dedication and action. May we embrace God's call with renewed vigor, ensuring we are always with Him, never against.