Thursday, 11th March Readings:
Jer 7: 23-28
Lk 11: 14-23
Theme: He intended to please no one
except his Father
We live in a society. As human beings,
society is of vital importance for our existence. However, very often it
influences us negatively; we are controlled and conditioned by the society in
which we live. Let me explain suppose someone compliments you saying you look
so great today it makes you feel so overjoyed and confident. But if somebody
tells you that you’re so stupid that single negative remark is more than enough
to spoil the entire day. Consequently, most of our actions are either reactions
to praise and blame or actions to receive appreciation and avoid criticism. You
see we are not in control of ourselves and our emotions. We are being
controlled and conditioned by the society. Coming to the Gospel of the day we
see Jesus driving out a demon. And there were two kinds of people in the crowd.
Some of them praised Jesus and were amazed at the miracle. While there were
others who said that, he drives out demons by the chief of the demons. Now,
what is great about Jesus is that he was affected neither by their praise nor
by their condemnation. Not because he was insensitive or lacked emotions. He
was a human being just like you and me. Yet unlike many of us he wasn’t
bothered about what others would talk about him. He was wholly focused on doing
the will of his Father. He says in the Gospel of St. John 4: 34, “My food is to
do the will of him who sent me.” People called him a sinner, one possessed by
devil, a glutton and drunkard, the son of a carpenter and so on. However, no
criticism whatsoever could let him down from doing the will of the Father. He
intended to please no one except his Father. Let us look into our own lives and
see to what extent we are free from the clutches of society to do the will of
God
Bro. Martin
II BTh