A reading from the gospel according to Luke 11:29-32
29 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.
30 Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.
31 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.
32 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: Sign
Good News: The Son of Man is the greatest sign.
Jesus, the only son of God, walked among the people in Israel. He healed the sick, cast out demons, raised the dead, fed thousands, and preached with authority. Yet many Jews did not believe in Him as the Son of God and they continued to ask for a sign. Indeed, no amount of signs would suffice to people of evil generation.
And so Jesus refused to play their games. Instead, He referred them to Jonah the prophet and King Solomon. The people of Nineveh listened to Jonah and they repented. People from far away lands traveled to Jerusalem to see the wonders God was doing through King Solomon. Yet the people especially the scribes and Pharisees did not listen to Jesus though He is far greater than any other king or prophet. As a result of their unbelief, they were warned of condemnation to be given on Judgment Day.
The scribes and Pharisees confined themselves in the box of their customs and traditions. They cannot see beyond the laws of Moses because they were blinded by their own pride and prejudices. As the learned elite of their time, they looked down at Jesus, a carpenter’s son, as a pretender. They even dismissed Him as a collaborator of Beelzebul.
Let us pray to God to grant us the gift of discernment that we may see the signs and wonder of His presence in our life and that we may be able to witness all the good things He is doing in the life of others as well as in the world. Let us also have the humility to repent for the unfaithfulness of the world. Finally, we pray that our faith in Jesus His son and savior may grow each passing day.
*****
Seeking Jesus
How much do you desire to know Jesus and to have a deeper relationship with Him? How much time do you devote to listening to His words and reflecting on them? Have you ever wished you were alive in Palestine during His time there?
Jesus called His generation evil because they were not interested in Him although He was performing miracles here and there. They were curious but they lacked faith. They wanted signs but Jesus refused to give them more because no amount of signs would change them.
The Ninevites were pagans but they listened to Jonah and they repented. Likewise, the queen of Sheba was a pagan but she traveled to Jerusalem to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Yet Jesus was greater than Jonah and Solomon but most people did not believe in Him. They deserved to be condemned.
Today, Jesus is not physically around to show signs and wonders for us. Yet signs and wonders of His presence are everywhere. We can see them if we have the eyes of faith. Of course, the signs and wonders of His works and words when he physically walked on earth are all in the scripture. We can read and know them if we so desire.
“You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). May the Holy Spirit grant us the desire to seek the Lord and may we have the eyes of faith to be able to see and appreciate His presence in us in our everyday life.
See also: Matthew 12:38-42 Reflection
