Gospel LK 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:
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……”
Jesus Christ, the ultimate sign of God’s presence, was right in front of them. Yet, the people of Jesus’ time were still seeking a “sign.”
Am I so different than the people of Jesus’ time?
In times of stress and doubt I too have prayed, “Please God, send me a sign, that I may know what to do.”
Asking for a “sign” is in itself a sign of the weakness of my faith. For the very essence of walking in faith is to go forward without proof.
Time and time again my brother, Jesus Christ, has carried me when I was too weak to walk alone through the trouble and turmoil of my life.
The troubles of life and the weakness of my faith are part of the human condition. My lack of faith leaves me fearful and driven to try to control every situation.
When my faith falters, I need only to look in the rearview mirror of my life and see the times that there was only “one set of footprints.”
When feeling threatened and overwhelmed, I need to calm myself and pray, “Oh Sacred Heart of Jesus, I put my trust in You.”
The sign, the proof of God’s love and care for me, is already in sight.
I only need to look behind me.
“In retrospect, I can see that ‘wait’ is the most precious answer God can give us. It makes us cling to Him.” V. R. Risner