Thursday of the Third Week of Lent
Listening to God’s Word
Liturgical Cycle: A, B, C | Lectionary Cycle: I, II
Introduction
“Listen to my voice,” says God through his prophet Jeremiah, and then, he complains that God’s people fails to listen, that they listen to themselves and follow their own ways. Their deeds do not speak the language of God. They do not follow God.
In the Gospel, Jesus cures the man who was mute. Worse than anyone who is deaf and mute and blind, are those who do not want to hear and see, or to speak with sincerity. They do not follow Jesus. Their hearts are divided.
Opening Prayer
Lord, our God,
You ask of us not so much
that we observe certain practices,
but that our hearts are turned to you.
God, may we do your will in everything,
loyally and generously,
as Jesus did, your Son,
who did your will because he loved you
and who lives therefore with you
and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
"Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tempted me;
they tested me though they had seen my works."
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Alleluia Verse
Glory and Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ
Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart,
for I am gracious and merciful.
Glory and Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ
Prayers of the Faithful
– That we may listen to the voice of our conscience, not only when it warns us against evil, but also when it prompts us to do good, we pray:
– That when temptation comes, we follow Jesus our Lord, who overcame temptations for us, we pray:
– That those who are preparing for baptism may learn how the Gospel will bring them joy and freedom, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord, our God,
you send your Son among us
to be our living Word.
May we learn from him,
that he did your will in everything
because he knew that this was your way
to reveal your saving love to all.
May we be on his side
and do your will in all things
as a living offering to you,
now and for ever.
Prayer after Communion
Lord, our God,
we are perhaps so busy
with our own plans for the future
and for a world we want to build up,
that we forget your plans for a new world.
God, may we carry out your plans
by your own rules;
may we listen to your Word, Jesus Christ,
and forget our own little plans,
that we may build up a kingdom
that stands, for ever and ever.
Blessing
“Obey my voice and I will be your God, and you shall be my people,” said the prophet. We thank God that God has made us his people. We do our best to live as the people God loves, with the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
REFLECTIONS
Finger of God
“Finger” is a polysemous symbol. It can be a symbol of accusation, when someone points a finger at me. When placed over the lips, it can silence me against my will. It can give me orders that may or may not be pleasing to me. Finger can also mean someone pointing to me in delight, reaching out to me to hug and carry me in their arms or on their shoulders. It can show me the way forward. A little child can hold on to the finger of her mom or dad and walk securely. Finger can wipe away the tears of my eyes. When Jesus referred to the “finger of God” it could only mean one thing: the maternal-paternal finger of God that seeks to touch, heal, redeem, protect; the finger that truly wipes away every tear from our eyes (cf. Rev. 21.4). Our call is to be this finger of God.
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Luke 11: 14-23
The Finger of God at Work
Today's Gospel invites us to reflect on our faithfulness to the Lord. Faithfulness is not merely about attending Sunday Masses but about having an open heart that listens to God's voice and follows His will. Pope Francis reminds us, “One cannot be with Jesus and be at a distance. Either you are with Jesus, or you are against Jesus; either you are faithful or you are unfaithful.” When our hearts become closed and indifferent, we push God away and fail to recognise His presence in our lives.
Despite our weaknesses and moments of disobedience, God's mercy is always available to us. Jesus assures us that while Satan may be strong, He is stronger andvictory belongs to God, and His grace always triumphs over sin. As St. Paul writes, “Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more” (Romans 5:20). This promise fills us with hope and confidence.
Every moment of protection, healing, or unexpected help is a sign of God's loving care. Nothing happens by chance in the life of a believer. The challenge is to cultivate a heart of gratitude, recognising God's presence in both ordinary and extraordinary moments.
Jesus experienced rejection. When He performed miracles, some accused Him of acting through the power of demons. First, one stops listening to God, then begins to discredit Him, and ultimately risks blaspheming the Holy Spirit — a rejection from which there is no return.
However, God's mercy always leaves room for hope. Even when our hearts have become hard, God invites us to return to Him. He is ready to forgive, forget, and embrace us once more. Let us ask for the grace to open our hearts, to see the finger of God at work in our lives, and to respond with faith and thanksgiving.