A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke (11:29-32)
While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them,
“This generation is an evil generation;
it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it,
except the sign of Jonah.
Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,
so will the Son of Man be to this generation.
At the judgment
the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation
and she will condemn them,
because she came from the ends of the earth
to hear the wisdom of Solomon,
and there is something greater than Solomon here.
At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation
and condemn it,
because at the preaching of Jonah they repented,
and there is something greater than Jonah here.”
REFLECTION: Failure to look for righteous signs, to help us make this year’s Lenten journey more fruitful, than previous ones, may result to wrongly worship the God we claim to serve.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus criticizes a generation that demands signs, and He promises them the sign of Jonah, emphasizing the importance of faith, repentance and belief in the resurrection. Rather than receiving the sign, accepting Jesus as the Messiah, and committing to following Jesus, they want yet another sign, so they can find a reason to reject Him.
Our world and our generation are not very different from the folks in the first century. Everyone today wants a sign also. Everyone wants to have a special experience. People are looking for a feeling. People want to have something unique happen to them, to set them above others. People often use practices like astrology, palm reading, numerology, tarot card readings, and interpreting recurring symbols or coincidences, in everyday life, to attempt to read signs and understand their life destiny, believing that these methods, provide insight into their future.
Brothers and sisters, Jesus Christ has provided us plenty of signs to follow Him, and yet we struggle to believe. The problem is not a lack of signs from God. The problem is not Jesus. The problem is not in the church. The problem is not in the teaching of God’s Word. The problem is with us. We cannot blame others for why we are not strong Christians. We cannot point the finger to someone else to excuse ourselves, for our lack of dedication, zeal, and love for the Lord. Jesus taught us that to receive eternal life we must love the Lord with all our heart, all our soul, and all our strength. We have no one to blame for not doing that, but ourselves. We must look within us and consider what is blocking the eyes of our heart, to fallow Jesus and believe. Why is the power of Jesus’ death and resurrection not moving people, to love the Lord and serve Him? What is interfering, with their focused commitment, to following Jesus? Jesus is warning us to look again.
The greatest sign has been given. It is the only sign we need. Jesus rose from the dead. What will you do with that miracle? Allow the resurrection of Jesus, be the only sign you need, to be a disciple of Jesus. We do not need another sign.
ACTION FOR THE DAY: We need the spiritual ability to see the sign that has already been given to us. Jesus, the Son of God, was crucified for sinners and raised again in power. Are you giving all your effort, to hear God’s Word and repent when you hear it? Jesus has given us the greatest sign of all, His resurrection. The question is: why do people struggle, to see or accept, the signs God has given?
AUDIO REFLECTION:
Amen…what a beautiful amd profound reflection. Thank you so much!