Thursday, March 16, 2023

Thursday of the Third Week of Lent

(Jeremiah 7:23-28; Luke 11:14-23)

The Lord sounds exasperated as He pronounces His judgment of the people in today’s reading from Jeremiah. Their faithfulness, he says, has disappeared; they no longer even mention it.  Faithfulness goes beyond faith.  As the word implies, it is fulness of faith. Faithfulness is putting into practice what one believes.

In the gospel the people do not even believe in Jesus.  Despite his cures and exorcisms, they keep seeking further signs.  Jesus does not concede to their demands.  Rather he refutes logically their claim of his diabolicalness.  If he were in league with demons, he says, casting out demons would defeat his purpose.

We have good reason to believe in Jesus.  He not only teaches what is true, died to justify our sins, but also answers our prayers.  Let’s be faithful to him as well by doing all that he commands.

Thursday, March 11, 2021

 Thursday of the Third Week of Lent

 (Jeremiah 7:23-28; Luke 11:14-23)

 In today’s first reading Jeremiah accuses the people of Jerusalem of turning their backs on God.  They have not been faithful to the Covenant that they have made with their Lord.  According to Jeremiah, they no longer even care about the promises that they made.  The situation has not improved by Jesus’ time.  In the gospel he sees the same hardness of heart that impedes the coming of God.  The people refuse to accept him as God’s prophet so that they do not have to conform to his teaching.

The same offense may be found in our society although, perhaps, magnified.  Faithfulness to one’s baptismal promises is often considered a betrayal of self.  More important than the baptismal covenant are the values that one recognizes for her or himself.  People will abandon their culture, their family upbringing, even previous choices to do what they think materially advantageous at the moment. 

Faithfulness is an all-encompassing virtue.  It acknowledges one’s readiness to live in the ways that we have professed.  But we are not only faithful to principles; we are also faithful to the people who have imparted those principles.  For us Christians this means faithfulness to the Lord Jesus.  We promise to do as he commands because he died to secure our deep and lasting happiness. 

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Thursday of the Third Week of Lent

(Jeremiah 7:23-28; Luke 11:14-23)

In today’s first readings Jeremiah accuses the people of Jerusalem of turning their backs on God.  They have not been faithful to the Covenant that they have made with the Lord.  The judgment could hardly be more severe.  According to Jeremiah, they no longer even pretend to be faithful; they do not even say the word.  The situation has not really improved by Jesus’ time.  He sees the same hardness of heart shown toward God’s ways of justice and mercy.  The people seem to refuse to accept Jesus as God’s prophet in order to follow their own preferences.

The same offense may be found in our society although, perhaps, magnified.  Faithfulness to one’s baptismal promises is now considered a betrayal of self.  Of major importance are the values that one chooses to recognize himself.  Forget about one’s culture, family background, even previous choices, one must do what he thinks is necessary to do at the moment. 

Faithfulness is an all-encompassing virtue.  It acknowledges one’s readiness to live in the ways that we have professed.  But we are not only faith to principles; we are also faithful to the people or the person who has imparted those principles.  For us Christians this means faithfulness to the Lord Jesus.  We promise to do as he commands because we know that he will provide our deep and lasting happiness. 

Thursday, March 23, 2017

Thursday of the Third Week of Lent

(Jeremiah 7:23-28; Luke 11:14-23)

Almost twenty-five years ago Pope St. John Paul II proclaimed a “New Evangelization.”  He said that it would be directed not only to the nations where Jesus is unknown and to Christians who have lost a living sense of their faith.  It would also go out to those who practice the faith!  All people -- good and bad alike -- need to hear God’s call to reform.  Taking His word into account, many who have thought of themselves as good will have to make a new appraisal.  Both Scripture readings today focus on this last group. 

In the first reading Jeremiah laments the reality of his day.  The people of Jerusalem are paying lip service to God.  They may go to the temple, but they do not practice love of God and neighbor that the law tries to instill.  In the gospel Jesus shows compassion when he enables a mute man to speak.  The people around him, however, refuse to acknowledge that Jesus’ power comes from God.  They say to the contrary that he heals because he is in league with the devil.  The passage ends with Jesus condemning those who deny his goodness. “…whoever does not gather with me,’” he says, “’scatters.’”

During the season of Lent, especially, we are being called to a true examination and conviction of self.  We may not be the biggest sinners, most of us at least, but we do gossip and curse others (while driving).  We fail to see the sufferings others undergo and often exaggerate our own challenges. There is plenty of room for improvement which must be made if we are to experience eternal life.

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Thursday of the Third Week of Lent

(Jeremiah 7:23-28; Luke 11:14-23)

Humans have a natural inclination to communicate with God but often reject God’s message.  Both readings today witness this failure.  Jeremiah testifies that the people of Israel have ignored the words of the prophets speaking on God’s behalf.  In the gospel Jesus’ critics accuse him of being in league with the diabolical powers that he expels.  Of course, Jesus points out their illogic.

The word of God is often demanding.  It can call people away from their greatest comforts.  “How could something so wrong feel so right?” an old country ballad asked obviously referring to an adulterous affair.  Yet God only intends that people live up to their potential.  He wants them to be honest and truly loving.

As God’s people, we do not want to reject his message.  Nor do we want to block out other people and sneer at creation.  It is important then that we consult wise people to set limits on our actions.  It is also helpful that we share with God our needs and desires.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Thursday of the Third Week of Lent

 (Jeremiah 7:23-28; Luke 11:14-23)

 Hesed is the Hebrew word for steadfast love. It epitomizes God's disposition toward humans and belies human relations with God. Where God is always merciful, ready to forgive human failings, people almost invariably evade completion of God's will. As the Lord tells Jeremiah in the first reading, "Faithfulness has disappeared..."

What is true in Jeremiah's time applies to Jesus' day. In today’s gospel some refuse to accept his message with the excuse that Jesus is in league with the devil. It characterizes as well the position of many today who will not acknowledge that humanity has been spared of sin through the cross of Jesus.  They deny the  reality of sin saying that human actions are not free, or they ignore the cross questioning its efficacy.

We can do better. Formed by Jesus' teaching, we can be faithful to the covenant that he established between us and the Father. Yes, it will entail measurable sacrifice as anything worthwhile does. But it foresees an immeasurable reward because its guarantor is the ever faithful God.