DAILY- HOMILY

03 March 2016  

Thursday, 3rd Week of Lent /

St. Katherine Drexel, Religious

Violet.         

Jer 7:23 – 28 / Lk 11:14 – 23

Born in Philadelphia, PA, USA, St. Katherine Drexel (1858 – 1955) had a special care for Afro-Americans and Native Americans.  She founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Indians and colored people and opened mission schools for Native Americans and Afro-Americans.

Gospel Reading: Lk 11:14 – 23 

One day Jesus was driving out a dumb demon.  When the demon had been driven out, the mute person could speak, and the people were amazed. Yet some of them said, "He drives out demons by the power of Beelzebub, the chief of demons."  So others wanted to put him to the test by asking him a heavenly sign.

But Jesus know their thoughts and said to them, "Every nation divided by civil war is on the road to ruin, and will fall. If Satan is also divided, his empire is coming to an end. How can you say that I drive out demons by calling upon Beelzebub? If I drive them out by Beelzebub, by whom do your fellow members drive out demons? They themselves will give you the answer.

"But suppose I drive out demons by the finger of God; would this not mean that the kingdom of God has come upon you?  As long as the strong and armed man guards his house, his goods are safe. But when a stronger one attacks and overcomes him, the challenger takes away all the weapons he relied on and disposes of his spoils.

"Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me, scatters."

Reflection

"He drives out demons by the power of Beelzebub, the chief of demons,"

(Lk 11: 15) this was how the scribes and Pharisees described the healing miracle of Jesus freeing a dumb man from an evil spirit and enabling him to regain his speech.  Instead of seeing the intervention of God's saving power, they maliciously doubted the authority of Jesus.

Logically speaking, would the devil undo itself and what he has done?  Why would the evil one drive away its own kind? In doing so, evil divides its own kingdom, defeating himself and his kind.  It is a contradiction: it would not happen.

The enemies and detractors of Jesus were so blind, with hardened hearts and minds, that instead of seeing and believing, they questioned and refused to see.  Why?  Because they refused to believe Jesus and his works; they did not have faith.

In the Gospel reading, Jesus invites us to see and read God's intervention and salvation in his actions and not to be so biased to refuse to see because we were already prejudiced and had already made pre-judgments, despite the facts and evidence.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

     Ian & Jinkee So

OTHER INTENTIONS:

For the speedy recovery of Roberto Lecaros. 

For the eternal repose of the soul of Capt Romeo Arnaez.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most. 

Have a good day!

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