Daily Readings - Thu Mar 16 2023
Jeremiah
23But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.24But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.25Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them:26Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers.27Therefore thou shalt speak all these words unto them; but they will not hearken to thee: thou shalt also call unto them; but they will not answer thee.28But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth.
Luke
14And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.15But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.16And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.17But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.18If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.19And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.20But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.21When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:22But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.23He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
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.