For or Against

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/032317.cfm http://usccb.org/bible/readings/032317.cfm) reminds me that I should decide if i am for or against God. 

There are a lot of politicians who stay on the safe side. Sometimes you do not know what side they are on – opposition or administration. They criticize the administration, then say they are not part of the opposition. They stay where it will be politically safe and wise based on the situation and the administration. They do not make their own firm stand. This is something that would not work with God.

You are either for God or against him.

There is no middle ground. God does not want a middle ground. In revelation, he said that he will spit out of his mouth those like lukewarm water. We should either be hot or cold. Jesus says in the gospel that we are either for God or against him. We cannot be in the middle – choosing which commandments and laws to obey. We cannot choose what doctrines we are comfortable with and believe in just those. We cannot choose what commandments we want to obey and just do those. It’s all or nothing – for God or against God.

In the first reading, God himself said that we should listen and obey him. This should be a whole hearted decision, and not a half baked one. He untiringly sends people to wake us up, to make us come to our senses and follow him. But he cannot force us. The decision is ours. May we heed the psalmist’s call – to soften our hearts and obey God as we hear his voice today calling us.

Are there commandments I do not follow? Do I choose what I believe in? Do I just do and obey what is comfortable to me? What is God telling me today?

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another reminder. Lord, I am sorry for the times I ignore this. Sorry for the times I only choose what I believe in, what I want, what is comfortable and acceptable to me. Create in me a pure and clean heart, that I may wholeheartedly follow you as I live my life. May I choose you all the time. And may my actions, may my life tell you that I am for you. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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March 23, 2017
Thursday of the Third Week of Lent
Lectionary: 240

Reading 1 Jer 7:23-28

Thus says the LORD:
This is what I commanded my people:
Listen to my voice;
then I will be your God and you shall be my people.
Walk in all the ways that I command you,
so that you may prosper.

But they obeyed not, nor did they pay heed.
They walked in the hardness of their evil hearts
and turned their backs, not their faces, to me.
From the day that your fathers left the land of Egypt even to this day,
I have sent you untiringly all my servants the prophets.
Yet they have not obeyed me nor paid heed;
they have stiffened their necks and done worse than their fathers.
When you speak all these words to them,
they will not listen to you either;
when you call to them, they will not answer you.
Say to them:
This is the nation that does not listen
to the voice of the LORD, its God,
or take correction.
Faithfulness has disappeared;
the word itself is banished from their speech.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9

R. (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
"Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tempted me;
they tested me though they had seen my works."
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Verse Before the Gospel Jl 2:12-13

Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart,
for I am gracious and merciful.

Gospel Lk 11:14-23

Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute,
and when the demon had gone out,
the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed.
Some of them said, "By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons,
he drives out demons."
Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven.
But he knew their thoughts and said to them,
"Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste
and house will fall against house.
And if Satan is divided against himself,
how will his kingdom stand?
For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons.
If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul,
by whom do your own people drive them out?
Therefore they will be your judges.
But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons,
then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.
When a strong man fully armed guards his palace,
his possessions are safe.
But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him,
he takes away the armor on which he relied
and distributes the spoils.
Whoever is not with me is against me,
and whoever does not gather with me scatters."