The Word Among US A Catholic Devotional based on the Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Thursday, March 12, 2015

The Word Among US A Catholic Devotional based on the Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Thursday, March 12, 2015

Meditation: Luke 11:14 He was expelling a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the man who had been mute spoke; and the people were astounded. 15 But some of them said, “It is by Ba‘al-Zibbul” — the ruler of the demons — “that he expels the demons.” 16 And others, trying to trap him, demanded from him a sign from Heaven. 17 But he, knowing what they were thinking, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, with one house collapsing on another. 18 So if the Adversary too is divided against himself, how can his kingdom survive? I’m asking because you claim it is by Ba‘al-Zibbul that I drive out the demons. 19 If I drive out demons by Ba‘al-Zibbul, by whom do your people drive them out? So, they will be your judges! 20 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God,[a] then the Kingdom of God has come upon you!

21 “When a strong man who is fully equipped for battle guards his own house, his possessions are secure. 22 But when someone stronger attacks and defeats him, he carries off all the armor and weaponry on which the man was depending, and divides up the spoils. 23 Those who are not with me are against me, and those who do not gather with me are scattering.[Footnotes:

Luke 11:20 Exodus 31:18]

3rd Week of Lent
By the finger of God . . . (Luke 11:20)
If you went to battle against a fearsome army, how would you defend yourself? You’d likely have your own weapons, bulletproof armor, and lots of backup. But in today’s Gospel, we hear that all Jesus needs to overcome the devil is his finger!
Jesus is stronger than the devil, so much so that when Satan, a “strong man,” bothers us, Jesus, the “stronger” man, easily overcomes him! This is what the story of the twostrong men in today’s Gospel reading is about. One man is “strong,” “fully armed,” and has possessions he thinks are safe. But then a “stronger man” comes along, takes away the strong man’s armor, and “overcomes” him. The strong man is Satan, whose lies and temptations can make us feel like hostages.
Where do you feel trapped or held hostage? Perhaps you feel that a pattern of sin or a struggling relationship will never get resolved. The downward spiral is too strong for you to overcome. Don’t give up! Remember Jesus, the stronger man. Remember the finger of God! In story after story in the Gospels, we read about the Lord doing awesome deeds as if it were nothing. Remember when he was confronted with a violent storm at sea. All he had to do was say, “Quiet! Be still!” and everything went calm (Mark 4:39). Or think about how he raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead with just two words: Talitha koum(5:41).
Satan may be strong, but Jesus is stronger. What’s more, he considers you very valuable. So he will absolutely answer when you call to him. Remember, he formed you and loves you. He has redeemed you and claimed you as his own. He will always come to your aid.
So invite Jesus into your strongholds. You may not see immediate results, but that doesn’t mean that he isn’t breaking through and answering your prayers. He is! Just stay close to him. “Gather” to him instead of “scattering” to other forms of comfort and security(Luke 11:23). Keep your heart fixed on him, and you’ll find him giving you his peace and his deliverance.
“Lord, you are my strong deliverer! In your protection, I rest secure.” Amen!
Jeremiah 7:23 Rather, what I did order them was this: ‘Pay attention to what I say. Then I will be your God, and you will be my people. In everything, live according to the way that I order you, so that things will go well for you.’ 24 But they neither listened nor paid attention, but lived according to their own plans, in the stubbornness of their evil hearts, thus going backward and not forward. 25 You have done this from the day your ancestors came out of Egypt until today. Even though I sent you all my servants the prophets, sending them time after time, 26 they would not listen or pay attention to me, but stiffened their necks; they did worse than their ancestors. 27 So tell them all this; but they won’t listen to you; likewise, call to them; but they won’t answer you. 28 Therefore, say to them,

‘This is the nation that has not listened

to the voice of Adonai their God.

They won’t take correction; faithfulness has perished;

it has vanished from their mouths.

Psalm 95: Come, let’s sing to Adonai!

Let’s shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation!

2 Let’s come into his presence with thanksgiving;

let’s shout for joy to him with songs of praise.

6 Come, let’s bow down and worship;

let’s kneel before Adonai who made us.

7 For he is our God, and we are the people

in his pasture, the sheep in his care.

If only today you would listen to his voice:

8 “Don’t harden your hearts, as you did at M’rivah,

as you did on that day at Massah in the desert,

9 when your fathers put me to the test;

they challenged me, even though they saw my work.

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