Today’s first reading is taken from the writings of the prophet Joel. The Book of Joel is a short but theologically powerful prophetic text, written after the people of God had returned from their exile in Babylon — most likely between the fifth and fourth centuries before Christ.
At this point in history, the people had come back to their land, only to face a devastating locust plague that threatened their crops, their survival, and even their liturgical worship, since their offerings in the temple depended on their agricultural produce.
In this situation, the prophet Joel interprets the ecological disaster not merely as a natural event, but as a sign of God’s judgment — a foreshadowing of the Day of the Lord. And so Joel reprimands even the priests: “Gird yourselves and weep, O priests!” The priests, he insists, must model repentance for the entire community, since their role is to intercede before God, to speak on behalf of the people, and to act in their name.
Joel calls for a national fast, a sacred assembly — not merely personal sorrow, but a communal act of repentance. How much do we need this today! Entire nations stand in need of repentance for the evil we commit before the eyes of the Lord. “For near is the Day of the Lord,” says Joel. His warning is urgent. The calamity is not distant — it is approaching quickly.
And if we think about it, brothers and sisters, whether it’s the final Day of the Lord or simply the day of our own death, when we will meet Him face to face — both are drawing near. We must take an interior inventory of what’s happening inside our hearts. Where is my heart? Where is my treasure?
Is my treasure truly Jesus? Or is it something else — a material attachment, a fleeting pleasure, a thirst for honour or power, or perhaps the wealth I’ve been chasing all my life? What holds my heart? Each of us must continue to fight this interior battle, for we all must face our own demons.
And speaking of demons, in today’s Gospel, we see our Lord Jesus demonstrating His authority over them — over Satan and his fallen angels. These rebellious spirits were created by God, loved by Him, and endowed with freedom. Yet they chose to rebel.
But Jesus engages in this spiritual warfare with divine power. He overcomes the kingdom of Satan and establishes, both in the world and more importantly in our hearts, the Kingdom of God. As Jesus Himself says, “The Kingdom of God is within you.”
What an astonishing truth — that we have a kingdom within us! Let us make sure that it is truly the Kingdom of God and not the kingdom of darkness or evil.
May the Lord deliver us, be with us, and guide us always.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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