Thursday of the Third Week of Lent (March 8, 2018): How to overcome divisions

Today’s Readings:

Jeremiah 7:23-28
Ps 95:1-2,6-9
Luke 11:14-23
www.usccb.org/bible/readings/030818.cfm

USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/18_03_08.mp3

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke.

Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute,
and when the demon had gone out,
the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed.
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.
And if Satan is divided against himself,
how will his kingdom stand?
For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons.
If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul,
by whom do your own people drive them out?
Therefore they will be your judges.
But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons,
then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.
When a strong man fully armed guards his palace,
his possessions are safe.
But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him,
he takes away the armor on which he relied
and distributes the spoils.
Whoever is not with me is against me,
and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”

Good News Reflection:

Progress on the Lenten journey is found in the words of Jesus in today’s Gospel reading: “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”

There is no neutral ground. There is no progress made when one foot is on the path of holiness and the other foot is on the world’s path. Either we sit on the fence or we lose our balance.

Whenever we fail to fully cooperate with Jesus, we are working (to some degree) against his perfect plans, against his strategies for spreading the kingdom of God, and against his attempts to answer other people’s prayers.

If we neglect the needs of others, if we ignore the sufferings of even the least significant people around us, if we refuse to love those whom he loves, we are working against Jesus.

Wow.

Are there divisions in your family or parish or rectory or religious order or ministry? Every division is more than just person against person, faction against faction. It’s an act against Jesus and it scatters people away from the path that he has paved for them. Jesus says, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste. Any house torn by dissension falls.”

However, through God’s resurrection power, all divisions can become great opportunities for new and stronger unity — if people on both sides choose to reconcile and to handle the problems God’s way.

What if you’re willing, but others in a divisive situation have hardened their hearts and stiffened their necks (as described in today’s first reading)? The division might not end in your lifetime, but God will bless you and heal your heart and strengthen your holiness.

To receive this healing, we have to hear God’s voice and harden not our own hearts (as it says in today’s responsorial Psalm). Condemnation and vengeful anger work against God’s plans, so instead of adding to the wall of division, we take pity on our enemies and pray for them and stand beside Jesus, ready and eager to be conduits of his merciful love if and when opportunities arise.

Sometimes for the sake of safety or emotional and spiritual health, we have to separate ourselves from others when they refuse to cooperate with reconciliation. This breakup is not a sin, regardless of how long the division continues, that is, if we listen for God’s voice, soften our hearts, and choose to lovingly do good for our enemies.

Loving those from whom we’re divided means that we don’t decide how to treat them based on how they treat us nor on what we think they deserve. Instead, we give them what they’re ready to receive from Jesus through us. (Note the word “ready”. If we force it on them before they’re ready and open to it, we cause more division.) That’s how to have unity even in the midst of divisions!

Today’s Prayer:

I want to forgive my neighbors, Lord, but I need Your grace to do it. Grant me the grace to forgive those who have hurt me. Help me to forgive myself, too, and to forgive You, if I have blamed You for something. Amen.

© 2018 by Terry A. Modica

• Vatican
• HĐGM Việt Nam
• CSsR
• DCCT
• Nhà sách Đức Mẹ
• Đức Mẹ Hằng Cứu Giúp