SERMON/HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF LENT 7TH MARCH 2024

SERMON/HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF LENT 7TH MARCH 2024

Jeremiah 7:23-28; Ps.95; Luke.11:14-23

Salvation requires Acceptance

Since Ash Wednesday, the Word of God has constantly called us to repentance and conversion. In our reflections, we have considered the demands of repentance from different perspectives. Repentance does not only mean to desist from evil but also to advance in virtues. Hence, there will always be need for us to repent.

How far are we faring since the commencement of this season of Grace? In the first reading, God expresses His disappointment with the people base on their constant rejection of His Providence towards them. He has employed different methods to call them to Himself but it seems as if the closer He tries to get to them, the farther they go away. His people rejected His salvation.

In the gospel reading, we still find this altitude of rejecting salvation. Jesus had manifested His power over evil by casting out a demon from a man. This miracle was an invitation to the people to embrace the kingdom of God that was already in their midst, but they turned down the invitation. Jesus is greatly displeased by this gesture.

We cannot belong to the kingdom of God by standing against it. To stand for the kingdom of God is to live in obedience to God’s commandment. Lent should refine us to be more receptive to the statues and ordinances of God. Religious prostitution is never authentic worship.

Reflecting further, we realize that repentance is a battle; a battle to get loosed from the grip of the power of darkness. We find Jesus facing such battle in today’s gospel not because He had any sin to repent of but in the course of carrying out His mission of saving humanity. If Jesus cast out devil, then we cannot doubt or underestimate the existence and operation of the powers of darkness in our world today.

True to His mission of saving man and inaugurating the kingdom of God, Jesus casts out demons. He does not do it in order to gain popularity, make money, manipulate or deceive people. We must be very cautious about those who claim powers to perform miracle. Test every spirit because from the gospel reading, it’s very evident that the devil can deceive with such signs. Only God can save us