Breaking the Word

3^rd week in Lent, Thursday – 27^th March 2025 – Jeremiah 7,23-28; Lk 11,14-23

Contrasting Witnesses

In the Gospel, we find three different reactions to Jesus’ exorcism. The first group accused Jesus of siding with the devil, with Beelzebul, the prince of demons. This group rejected the manifestation of the power of God and attributed Jesus’ power to the devil. The second group tested Jesus, like the people of Israel in the desert, and demanded a heavenly sign. The third group was amazed by the exorcism and gathered around Jesus. This group has the fundamental traits of an apostle: they are with Jesus, spend time in His presence, and listen to His word. Of the three, the first two groups contrast with the third. They display their hardness of heart and rejection of God’s word.

3^rd week in Lent, Wednesday – 26^th March 2025 – Deut 4,1.5-9; Mt 5,17-19

Least or Greatest

Today’s Gospel passage is taken from the Sermon on the Mount that contains some of Jesus’ most challenging teaching. Jesus has declared that He has come to complete the purpose of the Old Testament, not to discard it. He further specifies that His listeners are to transcend to a higher level in understanding the law and their underlying meaning. Those who relax the commandments in the law will be called least in the Kingdom. Those who keep and teach them will be called greatest in the Kingdom. Here, Jesus is speaking of both persons – those who do and those who do not obey the law of Moses – are in the Kingdom of heaven. Nevertheless, He points out about one’s rewards or status in that kingdom. Up to Jesus’ time perfect observance of the Law was focused on external acts, as clearly exemplified by the Pharisees and scribes. However, Jesus shows that true observance must also be in the heart and mind. One can silently or secretly obey the commandments out of love for the Lord.