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: I read the daily Gospel and readings, directly from the USCCB website, which I receive daily in my email inbox. Just before the Gospel, there is a section, titled “Verse Before the Gospel”. And today’s verse, reminded me what Lent is all about. That verse is also like one of the options, we hear on Ash Wednesday, when we receive the holy ashes on our foreheads.
That verse before today’s gospel is the following.
“Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart
for I am gracious and merciful.”
“…return to me with your whole heart…” That stands out to me, from that verse. On Ash Wednesday, one of the options we hear when we receive holy ashes on our forehead is; “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel”. Perhaps, we also need to hear, “…with your whole heart…” Isn’t that what the Lenten journey is about, with all our heart? That when we are faithful to the Gospel, we do it, with all our heart—not lukewarm.
Speaking personally, I am grateful to God for His graciousness, and mercifulness, on a sinner like me. The Lord is gracious and merciful to all who return Him, with their whole heart. The best part of this is, that the Lord doesn’t just leave that decision, on our own to remember, and do so. No! The Lord reminds us, every year. An outward sign, we can’t miss, and it is part of the Liturgical calendar; the cross that’s put on our foreheads, with holy ashes, on Ash Wednesday. Traditions on Ash Wednesday, have evolved over centuries, and some have theories, about how these practices, came to be, or how they are to be imposed. But we will leave that, for another discussion, or reflection.
In the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1427-1429), Jesus calls us to conversion. The sign for that conversion, can’t be clearer, than our Baptism, the principal place for the first, and fundamental conversion. It is by faith in the Gospel, and by Baptism, that one renounces evil, and gains salvation; that is, the forgiveness of all sins, and the gift of new life. Christ’s sign to conversion, doesn’t stop with baptism, it continues to echo, throughout the lives of all Christians. This second conversion sign is an uninterrupted one, for all the faithful. Due to our human sinful nature, we are always in need of purification, through the path of reconciliation and penance, a renewal; it’s the Lord’s call to the whole Church: “Repent!”
ACTION FOR THE DAY: Reflect today, upon your own willing response, to the words of Jesus, in the Gospels. Then, actively recognize, the presence of Jesus in the “ordinary”, the small things you take for granted; neighbors, during a commute, and in quiet moments, rather than waiting for more signs, or dramatic moments, to believe and follow Him, with your whole heart.
AUDIO REFLECTION:
