In the Gospel reading today from Luke 11 Jesus is accused by some people of driving out demons by the prince of demons. Jesus talks about what a ridiculous notion that is. He says, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house.” He then goes on to say, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” Are you with Jesus? Because if you’re not, if you’re on the fence or ambivalent, the you’re against Him.
The first reading today from Jeremiah 7 takes a rather dire tone. God recounts the state of the people. It is not pretty. “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. 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.”
The nation that does not listen to the voice of the LORD. Could these same words of Jeremiah not have been written today? Sometimes we can look around at the world and feel that same way, that no one is listening to God. The devil is strong and seems to be influencing more hearts and minds than God is. We can be tempted to lose hope. We must never let that happen! As long as a seed of faith is alive in your heart, there is hope. When we listen to the voice of God, then we can begin the process of turning around the world. May our faithfulness grow today, and may we share our faith with others.
Father, our hope is in you. Help us to grow in faith and love today, that we may help faithfulness to reappear more and more. Amen.
As Easter draws near, be sure to order copies of A Minute in the Church today to give away on Easter Sunday at your parish. Order at www.GusLloyd.com.
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