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:
“This generation is an evil generation;
it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it,
except the sign of Jonah.”
The people of Jesus’ time were constantly demanding that Jesus’ give them “a sign” to prove that He was in fact the long awaited Messiah.
Before we find fault with them, perhaps we should consider whether we do the same thing.
I remember a summer night as a child of 7 or 8 when the entire neighborhood was outside staring at the sky because there seemed to be a cross covering the moon.
Today, we constantly hear or read about people seeing apparitions that they attribute to the coming of Christ. Sadly, people are still looking for signs.
The only true “sign” has already been given. Jesus Christ came to earth, was crucified and raised from the dead. His story is set forth in the New Testament, but relatively few ever bother to read it.
Instead, like the Jews of Jesus’ day, many continue to seek after external signs.
The only true “sign” of Christ is the change of mind, heart and behavior in our own lives.
If I repent of my sins, feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, and visit the sick and imprisoned as a result of my faith, then others will see the “sign” that Jesus Christ is alive on earth.
“We don’t change the message, the message changes us.” Unknown