The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/032819.cfm)
reminds me that I
should decide if I am for God or not.
There
are a lot of politicians who stay on the safe side, on the powerful side.
Sometimes you do not know what side they are on – opposition or administration.
They are not loyal to a party or core values, but are loyal to those in power.
Personality based. They would change parties depending on who is in power. They
stay where it will be politically safe and wise, and not make their own firm
stand. This is not something that would work for God. We need to decide.
You
are either for God, or against him.
There
is no middle ground. 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. We should be all in.
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 sends people
to remind us, but he cannot force us. The decision is ours to make.
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?
May
we heed the psalmist’s call – to soften our hearts and obey God as we hear his
voice today calling us. May we decide that we are fully on God’s side and live
that decision.
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. Sorry for not loving you wholeheartedly. Help
me live pleasing to you. Create in me a pure and clean heart, that I may
wholeheartedly follow you as I live my life. I will do my best to live my
decision to be on your side, to follow and love you. Amen.
Blessed Day!
In Christ,
-g-
March 28 2019
Thursday of the Third Week of Lent
Lectionary: 240
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.
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.
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.
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."
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."
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