MARY, OUR MOTHER

THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT

On this Third Sunday of Lent, in the traditional Gospel of the day, we hear of a scandalous incident in the life of Our Lord (Luke 11:14-28). Imagine, here is Jesus doing Good Works and He's accused of working for the devil! "By Beelzebub, the prince of devils, he casts out devils," they said.

How that remark must have pierced the Heart of Jesus, He is completely misunderstood! And these remarks came from men who thought they were righteous. How blind, dark and distorted some minds can be! Here was the Holy One of God, the Son of God, prophesied through the ages, in Person before them, and they are totally blind!

Jesus asserts Himself and His loyalty to the Father: "If I cast out devils by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you." Those poor fools could not recognize the Prince of Light, Jesus, the image of the Father. "The Father and I are One!"

Woe to these blasphemers, cause they will be judged by their ancestors, the prophets, who had cast out devils themselves.

Then Jesus calls us to a like loyalty to Himself, from everyone: "He who is not with me is against me; and he who does not gather with me scatters." He actually demands that we declare our allegiance to Him! Loyalty is in our very blood because God the Father put it there; it is meant to hold us firm when evil desires tempt us.

We are "children of the light," (Ephesians 5:9) let us not give our loyalty to earthly pleasures. Let us be loyal as love! Let us live our baptismal promises! 'Do you Reject Satan, father of lies, prince of darkness and all his works and all his empty promises! Reject sin, so as to live in the freedom as God's children! Reject the glamour of evil, and refuse to be mastered by it!' (Rite of Baptism) Let pray the "Lord's Prayer" as our loyalty oath and be united with Jesus.

At the end of this periscope, it says: 'A certain woman from the crowd lifted up her voice and said to Him, "Blessed is the womb that bore Thee, and the breasts that nursed Thee." But He said, "Rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it." '

Jesus lifts us up to the dignity of His own Mother, that's how much He loves us! Like Mother Mary, He joins our hearts to His and Hers for all eternity!

PRAYER

O Almighty God, fulfill the petitions of the humble;
And defend us with Your Right Hand of Power.
Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

God saves me, Jesus enlightens me, the Holy Spirit is my life, thus I fear nothing.

Deacon John