Thursday, March 3, 2016

Whoever is with Jesus gathers than scatters


March 3, 2016

Thursday of the Third Week of Lent
Feast of the Church : 24 Hours for the Lord 

Reading 1

23Thus 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.

24But 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. 25From the day that your fathers left the land of Egypt even to this day, I have sent you untiringly all my servants the prophets.

26Yet they have not obeyed me nor paid heed; they have stiffened their necks and done worse than their fathers. 27When you speak all these words to them, they will not listen to you either; when you call to them, they will not answer you. 

28Say 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

R. (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

1Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD; let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
2Let 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.

6Come, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
7For 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.

8Oh, that today you would hear His voice: “Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert, 9Where 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 Joel 2;12-13

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

Gospel

14Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed. 15Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, He drives out demons.” 16Others, to test Him, asked Him for a sign from heaven.

17But He knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. 18And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. 19If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges.[1] 20But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.

21When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. 22But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils.[2]

23Whoever is not with Me is against Me, and whoever does not gather with Me scatters.”



Notes on Readings:

[1] Luke 11:19 - Your own people: the Greek reads "your sons." Other Jewish exorcists (see Acts 19;13-20), who recognize that the power of God is active in the exorcism, would themselves convict the accusers of Jesus. See also the footnote on Matthew 12:27.

[2] Luke 11:22 - One stronger: that is, Jesus. Compare with Luke 3;16 where John the Baptist identifies Jesus as "more powerful than I."

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Dear Humanity,

I personally encourage everyone to emulate JESUS' values on LOVE, FAITH, HOPE
and CHARITY, as the humanity has been a failure; which resulted to the more than two (2) years of pandemic and its after-effects on economy, not only here in the Philippines but worldwide.

And the saddest part of it, is that, it affected the POOREST of the POOR to even extremely be more poorer, in exchange of the affluent to be more richer.

Thank you and may GOD bless you and the whole family to have an enjoyed life's journey at home, Church, schools/universities, corporate commitments, public and places of interest.