Thoughts on the readings for March 20th (Numbers 1, Psalms 143, 144,Luke 11)

In Luke 11 we start with a record of, what is termed, the Lord’s Prayer. It is a model prayer, not a mantra to be repeated without thought. It commenced with an acknowledgement of the Father’s awe inspiring status. The follows petitions for the Almighty’s will to be on earth, as it is in heaven. The kingdom will come when Messiah returns in glory. Lastly are personal petitions for forgiveness and for food. The prayer closed with an acclaim for the praise, greatness and glory of our Sovereign. Then followed generosity among friends and our need to be seekers, askers and knockers on doors. Our Father is generous and gives only benefits to His children. Upon curing a deaf mute Jesus is accused of doing it by a demon power Beel-zebul – the Lord of the dung heap. This was equivalent to blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Jesus told them that if he was casting out diseases by a demonic power then he would be a destroyer of the kingdom of the enemy. No, like the magicians of Egypt at the time of Moses were forced to acknowledge- “this was the finger of God”. A parable of the need to fill with good after sweeping out evil followed. True happiness lay in hearing and keeping the Word of God. The sign of Jonah was given them. There is more to this sign than would first seem apparent. 1) Jonah from Gath-Hepher was from Galilee (John 7 verses 52 verse 2) Jonah means ‘dove’ the evident sign at Jesus’ baptism; 3) the overwhelming majority of Jesus’ disciples were Galilean as Isaiah 9 predicted; 4) Jonah spent three nights in the belly of hell inside the great fish before being symbolically resurrected. Then we are told to be single minded seekers. Woes upon the Pharisees and the Lawyers follow, because of their hypocrisy. Rather than having the effect of curtailing them they sought even more to provoke our Lord.