12-Oct-15

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:
Jesus told the crowd you "seek a sign but no sign will be given....."
It seems that the seeking after "signs" is like the Wise Potato Chip commercial....we are never satisfied with just one.
If my faith in God is depended upon signs then it is a weak faith indeed. In fact, it is not faith at all. For by definition, "faith" is the belief in that which cannot be seen.
".......except the sign of Jonah." Jesus is telling the people the one miracle they can expect is that just as Jonah emerged from "the belly of the whale" after three days, so will he rise from death to life after three days.
But, Jesus did not suffer, die and rise from death only to prove that life after death exists.
He died and rose to show us that the way he lived is what is pleasing to Our Father.
He taught by the example of his life on earth that service and sacrifice are the pathway to being united with God, both in this life and in the next.
Jesus lived a life of simplicity and service, caring not for the things of this world, but trusting in God to provide.
Those whom we serve for Christ have the "childlike" faith that Jesus spoke about in the gospel: "O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike." Luke 10:21
Such is the mother who, in "childlike" faith, writes a letter pleading for help for her children. She sends it off to a place called My Brother's Keeper, accompanied by a prayer to her loving God, whom she depends upon.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9