Thursday of the Third Week of Lent

Jeremiah 7:23-28

Luke 11:14-23

 

Choose today- The Kingdom of God or The Kingdom of Satan

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus, Jesus had performed many healings and several exorcisms. There are several instances that Jesus freed those troubled and oppressed souls. In today’s Gospel instance people who witnessed however attributed it to the power  of satan not to the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

The Accusation: Some people, especially the leaders who were always against him, reacted negatively and accused him of resorting to Satan’s power to cast out evil spirits; they claimed that He gains His power and authority from Satan; that He is associated with Belzaboul,satan. They tried to defame him and slander him. They attributed it to Satan rather than the power of God.

The Anwer: Jesus makes two interesting arguments.

1.      According to today's reading, we get a glimpse that there are among their own who cast out demons which are attributed to God. Jesus makes a counter argument that  by associating his exorcism to the power of satan, they naturally attribute their own to Satan. If they are accusing Jesus they are accusing and  denouncing their own people. There is a hypocrisy and double standard here.

2.      In his second argument, Jesus says that"Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house.” If the household, society, nation, the kingdom or satan turn against their own people, land, or the force, it is finished. It results in destruction and annihilation of its own existence. This can not be so. This would never happen.

 

Jesus made it clear that it is through the power and authority of God that He casts out evil spirits; and brings healing and freedom from sin and satan. The presence of power and authority of God is clearly present in all the healings and exorcisms which point towards the kingdom of God.

At the end of the Gospel, jesus makes a pressing statement that “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.'' It is either we belong to Jesus or against him; either we belong to God’ kingdom or to the kingdom of satan; either to the light or to the darkness.

This is what the first reading of the day reminds us, Prophet Jeremiah reminds the people to Listen to God and obey that they may prosper and be children of God. with God there is life and prosperity; healing and liberation; peace and security.

But the people turned against God and refused to follow and be faithful to his commandments, thus they were scattered. They are in need of liberation.

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters, therefore the readings invite us to question where do we stand? Do I stand with Jesus or with evil spirits/Satan?

Do I believe Jesus or refuse to ignore?

Let us reflect and answer ourselves.  

 

I am the LORD, the God of all the living! Is anything too difficult for me? (Jeremiah 32:27)

Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (Matthew 28:18)

FR. JAYARAJU MANTHENA OCD

WEDNESDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF LENT

Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent

Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9

Matthew 5:17-19

The Lord, The Law and The Life

Dear brothers and sisters in christ jesus, the readings of the day focus on the “Law”.

In the first reading:

The people of Israel were on the verge of entering into the Promised Land. so moses as a final act of reminding the message of God, he brings to their attention to the Lord, the Law and the Life. there is no greater God than Him, for He created them, liberated and accompanied throughout their desert journey always protecting through his presence. God was always with them, through the Ark, through tabernacle, through the pillar of Cloud and Fire and also through Moses.

Generally speaking, if a society is to be considered to be great and best is usually measured by their Laws, administration and observance of those Laws. The Laws God commanded to Israel are a way of life, which enables them to be closer to God as well as enriches their life.

Two objectives of the Laws.

1. Therefore he strongly instructs them to be a living witness to the way of life inscribed by the laws, that is to heed to them and apply to their lives then only it will be recognised law is fulfilled.
2. And they ought to pass onto the next generation, instil the way of life to their children that they have fostered through the laws. The reason being, people usually are surrounded by many different people and laws and customs. Therefore if they do not keep up nor transmit to the next generation there is a danger of forgetting the beauty of their way of life, eventually it may perish.

Gospel

Jesus Christ was the best expression of the Law, the closeness and the blessing of God. During Jesus' time, the law was seen only as an external observance and Pharisees and scribes were deemed as best exemplary in this regard. The original intention envisioned by God in regard to the Laws was in some way distorted over the years. Therefore Jesus makes it his mission to point out the obvious and steer them back to the original intention.

Everyone thought looking at how Jesus acts towards the laws, has come to abolish the law. However he makes it perfectly clear that He has not come to abolish, abrogate but to complete it, bring forth the deeper meaning assigned to the laws.

Laws include a deep sense of Love, Justice, compassion and unity. It must transcend mere external show to involve the heart and mind. Thus the purpose of the Law is to Live, let live and grow. In other words, it is the love of God and love of neighbours. The Laws of God embody moral, religious and civil force for a better way of life and identity.

Observe them carefully, for this is your wisdom and discernment in the sight of the peoples, who will hear of all these statutes and say, “This great nation is truly a wise and discerning people.” (Deuteronomy 4:6)

then the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. (Romans 7:12)

FR. JAYARAJU MANTHENA OCD