Luke 11:14-23

'He who is not with me is against me' we read in today's Gospel. We are challenged to examine which side of the battle we are fighting on: are we with Jesus or against Him? Of course we would all say that we are on His side, but our actions often reveal the contrary. There is a constant tension in our faith, where in our heart we feel we are on Jesus' side, but in our actions we prove the opposite.  We feel that division and frustration within us, especially during Lent, when we are looking more closely at ourselves. Lent is this beautiful time of year when we can spend even more time alone with God, maybe like the woman in our painting having a quiet moment at home reflecting.

Edward Hopper is an artist who masterfully paints reflectiveness, loneliness and solitude. Figures are seen in pensive moods, sitting quietly. I'd like to think that some of these people may be praying, in the midst of the busy American life going on around them. I recently read in an article that because of Covid, "we are all Edward Hopper paintings now". Nevertheless, reflectiveness and meditation is not the same as the loneliness they refer to. In our faith we actively choose moments to step away, in quietness, to find God and listen to Him.