Joel 1:13-15
Lk 11:15-26
Many disasters or tragedies like wars, or a plane crash or a terrorist attack can be traced down to human negligence or human failing or sinfulness.
But what about natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, volcano eruptions, etc, where innocent lives are lost.
Maybe because it is so called "natural", we tend to make God accountable for it. We call it an "act of God".
Simply because we just can't find a convincing and consoling answer.
In the first reading, we hear of a terrible invasion of locusts that ravaged the land.
The effects were disastrous, but the prophet Joel saw it from a spiritual and religious dimension.
He saw it as a sign of the coming of the day of the Lord.
He urged the people the repent and to turn to the Lord with weeping and fasting, and the priests to pray for deliverance.
Similarly in the gospel, the case of a diabolical possession and exorcism was used by Jesus as a platform to proclaim that the Kingdom of God is at hand.
When disasters or tragedies happen around us, we lament and grieve and maybe even blame God for what has happened.
But can we also see it from a spiritual and religious dimension?
Because out of chaos, a new creation comes forth.
We may give in to hopelessness and be scattered.
But let us gather in faith, and with Jesus, we await for a new creation and a new revelation.