Reflection
Today’s first reading from Jeremiah compels us to examine our relationship with God. “they have stiffened their necks and done worse than their fathers.” “Faithfulness has disappeared.”
In St. Luke’s gospel passage, as Jesus had repeatedly tried to restore faithfulness in those who witnessed and listened to him, he drove out a demon that was mute. When the mute man spoke, the crowds were amazed. Had the people’s faith been restored by this miraculous act or by other words and works that he performed? Apparently not: “Some of them said, ‘By the power of Beelzebub, the prince of demons he drives out demons. Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven.” Hardened hearts….stiffened necks? Jesus rebukes their faithlessness.
“Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house.”
So what has changed in 2,000 years? Perhaps not much. In spite of the presence of our Saviour among us, and the wonderous words he preached and works he performed, we live in a world torn between good and evil. We continue to witness the struggles of division in our daily lives: spouse against spouse; parent against child; supervisor against employee; neighbor against neighbor; government against the governed; state against state; party against party; nation against nation; humanity against earth, etc., etc. Satan and other demons continue to roam the world and cause confusion, havoc, harm, hurt and faithlessness.
Jesus’ ministry was very clear: “But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.” Look around yourself at the global scene. Where is the peace and harmony that Jesus so much desired to bring into the world? What would your own assessment be? Obviously, in the context of our fallen nature, every generation is to some extent an evil generation. There are good and saintly people and there are foul and demonic people.
So I ask myself: am I a subject of the Kingdom of God or a subject an evil generation in which “Faithfulness has disappeared”? Or somehow through the grace of God, am I able to turn my back on the evil in the world and foster the Kingdom of God through my own acts of love, kindness and mercy. This is not an easy task because it involves virtually every waking moment of our day. It is not a lifestyle that we have to plan and ponder. It is a lifestyle that we simply need to live.
Pope Leo XIV’s 2026 Lenten message is very persuasive concerning the behavior we should adapt:
“I would like to invite you to a very practical and frequently unappreciated form of abstinence: that of refraining from words that offend and hurt our neighbor. Let us begin by disarming our language, avoiding harsh words and rash judgement, refraining from slander and speaking ill of those who are not present and cannot defend themselves. Instead, let us strive to measure our words and cultivate kindness and respect in our families, among our friends, at work, on social media, in political debates, in the media and in Christian communities. Trade the mean words for words of hope and peace. Let us ask for the strength that comes form the type of fasting that also extends to our use of language, so that hurtful words may diminish and give way to a greater space for the voices of others.”
May the Passion of Jesus Christ be always in our hearts!
