THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Thursday in the third week of Lent, 2021

Jeremiah 7:23-28

Ps 95

Luke 11:14-23

He who is not with me…

Dear friends in Christ, often, we truly appreciate the friendship that is frank and sincere, devoid of sycophancy. I will rather choose to stay with one that is sincere than with ninety-nine that I cannot trust. Such should be the attitude of a Christian to friendship. A good friend will stand by you, and if need be, die for you; a sycophant moves camp, as soon it becomes unfavourable.

Our first reading describes a very disturbing attitude of the people. “Obey my voice, and I will be your God…But they did not obey or incline their ear, but walk in their own counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward.” The Israel of Jeremiah’s time, wanted to belong to God and indeed claimed to belong to God, but did not obey the commands of God. They made themselves the sleeping partner in the covenant with God. They expected God to continue to fulfil the promises he made to their ancestors, while they were not willing to fulfil the promises made by their ancestors, to serve God and follow his ways. God’s comment is very important here, “This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the Lord their God, and did not accept discipline; truth has perished; it is cut off from their lips.”

Our worship centres are packed regularly, we have religious activities going on all over the land on a daily basis. Often those who are the leaders of the nation, sit in front as a matter of respect for their office at ceremonies, and one cannot but wonder, if they do listen to the word of God, even when it is read in their presence. Is this nation obeying the voice of the Lord? Are we following the discipline outlined in the word of God that we read? Where has the truth disappeared to in our nation—perished? People lie as if there’s nothing to it, as if it is normal—its just one of those things. How are we different from the people of the time of Jeremiah?

Our gospel talks about division. Jesus taught those who were with him a good lesson, because they said he was using the power of Beelzebub to cast out devils. Truth had perished from them, just because they sought an avenue to kill the truth. Jesus however told them, “If it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” No amount of human rejection can stop the work of God from going on. However, “He who is not with me is against me…” Being on the side of Jesus requires that we shun indifference. The giving of the self fully to God by obedience to his commands, is what the Lord demands. A nation cannot be great except it recognises the greatness of God.

Let us pray: We give you thanks O Lord, for all the wonders you work in our lives. Give us true commitment to Christ which will lead us to build a better nation and a better world. Amen.

+Remain blessed