By Beth DeCristofaro
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| Glenstal Abbey Jesus Icon |
Thus 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. (Jeremiah 7:23)
Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince
of demons, he drives out demons.” Others, to test him, asked him for a sign
from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom
divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. … Whoever
is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. (Luke 11:15-17, 23)
Piety
God our Father, your
will is that everyone be saved and no one be lost. You draw us to yourself by prayer and
penance. Grant that we may so follow
Christ in love that our lives may help others and our weakness never hinder
them. We make this payer in his name,
Jesus, the Christ, our Lord. Amen (The Glenstal Book of Prayer, Liturgical Press; New edition (September
2001)
Study
Jeremiah, in today’s
reading, reminds the Israelites how they have not listened, have not walked in
God’s ways and have not prospered. Verse
28 which immediately follows says: ”Cut
off your hair and throw it away! On the heights raise a lament!” The
footnote to this verse explains that cutting off the long hair of those
committed in a sacred vow to God is an extreme act of mourning. Jeremiah warns that
they should feel powerful grief because they spurned God who chose them.
In the Gospel Jesus
frees people from their demons. He
doesn’t demand a period of parole or treat them with contempt. Rather he invites them to reunite within
themselves and with God. Which voices do
we listen to today, God or ungodly voices?
Lent is the perfect season to practice filling our own house with the
voice of God. We are given the
opportunity to fast from our own idols, addictions, prejudices, angers, slothfulness,
miserliness, pettiness. We can chose to
turn back. In fact we are welcomed to
turn back and walk in all the ways that God commands.
Action
Today two groups of
women who have all agreed to turn back afresh to God through Cursillo will meet
and hear God’s voice in a new way in their midst. God welcomes them all with abandoned
enthusiasm as did the Prodigal’s Father.
Spend time in prayer for Team, Babe Chicks and for yourself to
experience once again the burning in your heart of God’s call. One idea is Lectio Divina for Lent, link
below.
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