In our gospel for today, we see how people had a problem with who Jesus was and what he was doing regarding the healings he was performing. They assumed it was through the Evil One that the Lord was doing these healings. They had trouble accepting the fact that he was the Messiah they have been waiting for and had power over good and evil. Because he is both fully God and fully man, he had this power to heal people and to expel demons. Yet the people were blinded to this truth and rejected him. Jesus rightly points out, “…if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?”
What is
our attitude towards Jesus? Do we accept him as Messiah and God? Or do we have
our doubts about who he and what he can do in our lives. In today’s gospel and throughout
all the gospels we can see and come to know that Jesus is our Lord and Savior.
We just need to put our trust in him and know that he will be there for us in
all our needs. Our needs may not be as dramatic as in today’s gospel where
Jesus is expelling a demon, but Jesus is there for us in all our problems,
whether emotional or physical. We just need to turn to him and ask him for his
help and healing in whatever we are facing, whether for ourselves or for our
families or friends.
In our
first reading we hear Jerimiah give us this message from God: “Listen to myvoice; then I will be your God and you shall be my people. Walk in all the waysthat I command you, so that you may prosper.” Let us always have God in the
center of who we are so that we can receive the emotional or physical healing
we need. God will always answer our prayers in a way that we need. We my not get
the answer we expect but we will always get the answer or healing God feels we
need. We just need to be open to God’s voice in every aspect of our lives.
Praise
be Jesus Christ now and forever.
From Arlene B. Muller
ReplyDeleteGoing through a time of financial need & financial struggles even though I am working in my profession part time/per diem more hours than ever, collecting Social Security, & always living a clean & what I would consider & what I think others who observe me would call an exemplary Catholic life as a celibate single 72 year old woman trying to learn how to be righteous without falling into self-righteousness (like that of the Pharisee in the temple & the elder son) & to be holy without being "holier than thou" I am aware of how often I get into financial emergencies & needed Our LORD to rescue me & finding Him faithful in rescuing me, usually with the help of wonderful friends in the LORD. The Scripture verse that describes my life recently is from Psalm 34:"Many are the troubles of the just, but out of them all the LORD delivers them". I also relate to the title of a book written by a man who worked as a comedy writer for Red Skelton: "GOD HAS NEVER FAILED ME (BUT HE'S SURE SCARED ME [NEARLY] TO DEATH A FEW TIMES".
Currently my need is to get rental assistance from a program in Catholic Charities & another agency within 2 months or I could lose my apartment & possibly become homeless, because I have only been able to pay partial rent for the past year & my landlady who has been wonderfully patient & understanding & who charges a very reasonable rent has her own financial struggles.
Prayers most needed,"
Peace, Love & Joy
Arlene