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:
In the Old Testament book of Jonah, God was concerned about his children in the city of Nineveh who had become wicked and sinful.
He sent the prophet Jonah to preach repentance. Reluctantly, Jonah did as God commanded. Low and behold, the entire city did indeed repent of their evil ways and were forgiven.
The Jews of Jesus’ time rejected the same call delivered by Jesus himself to repent, looking instead for a miraculous sign.
How easy it is for me to think, “Those foolish Jews. They had the Son of God right there in their mist and blew their chance.
“I find myself believing, “If I had been alive at the time of Jesus, I certainly would have followed him.”
But, upon honest reflection, I’m not so sure.
Witnessing the miracles of the loaves and fishes, the walking on water and raising Lazarus from the dead may well have overwhelmed and confused me.
I’m grateful I’ve had the opportunity to sit and study the word of God and Jesus’ life and message in a less emotionally charged atmosphere.
My belief of Jesus’ message of God’s unconditional, never ending love and forgiveness comes more from studying his words and acts of compassion than through his miraculous signs.
Reflecting on today’s gospel helps me to be less condemning of the doubts of the Jews and less certain of what my own reaction would have been had I been there at the time.
“Judge not, that you not be judged”
Matthew 7:1