16/03/2023

Jesus refutes those who tried to understand the miracle they had just witnessed by attributing it to Satan's power. Evil is completely evil and stands firm as one force challenging Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Only a "stronger man" can defeat the "strong man guarding his palace". Jesus rather abruptly changes his topic from "Satan" to himself and his listeners. We can be sure of our place in the Kingdom only if we are with Jesus. There is with Jesus only "yes" or "no".

The first "yes" from me came at Baptism and I have repeated those vows many times since then. I have repeated and listened to the Creed devotedly. I know that God's Mercy is never absent from our world. Jesus is the last of the prophets. God himself has walked among us as he did with Adam. With an unimaginable suffering on the Cross he has taken into himself all the sins that there can ever be so that we can be able to live as the "Man" we were created to be.

Although our material world has changed so much, each living soul is faced with the same "yes or no" as  was the crowd listening to Jesus. The psalmist prays that we listen. God speaks directly through Jeremiah "Listen to my voice". The Resurrection assures us that God is with us. I can complain to God that I do not want to add to the sins he has forgiven but always do. Only if my heart is sincerely open to the forgiveness won on Calvary can I even begin to live my life knowing, loving and serving.

Dear Lord, forgive my sinful weakness of being. Can I ever come to have  the complete revulsion at Sin as you have? Let me hand over to you all the lies, deceits and selfishness that characterise my life. There is nothing greater than You. Save me again and let all sinners come penitent to kneel at the foot of your cross. May the the prayers of all supplicants on earth and in heaven bring us to an awareness of our faults and to hope for your ever greater Mercy. You are God. Have mercy on me.