7/24/2023 (Monday) Today’s gospel reading: Matthew 12:38-42
38 Some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.”
39 He said to them in reply, “An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign,
but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.
40 Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.
41 At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and there is something greater than Jonah here.
42 At the judgment the queen of the south will arise with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here.”
7/24/2023 (Monday) Today’s gospel reflection: Matthew 12:38-42
The hypocritical religious leaders asked Jesus for a sign and Jesus brought up the sign of Jonah. Let us recall how Jonah wanted to ran away from God only to find himself in the belly of a whale for three days and three nights. Eventually, he obeyed what God instructed Him to do – to proclaim the message of repentance to the people of Nineveh. To make the story short, he became the instrument for the salvation of a pagan city because the people heard the message and they repented.
Jesus was greater than Jonah but the Jews who are called the “Chosen People of God” rejected Him and did not repent. Instead, they discredited Him and killed Him.
Jesus points to the coming judgment day. Those who continue to reject the message of repentance will be condemned. Have you ever thought of Judgment Day? How would you like to be judged? On that day, all of us will face the Supreme Judge. Have we lived like Jonah, the instrument for others to repent? Have we lived like the hypocrites of Jesus’ time who rejects both the messenger and the message of repentance?