16-Oct-17

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:
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...."
The miracles that Jesus performed, cleansing the leper, making the blind see, the deaf hear, driving out demons, and raising people from the dead, were done to show that His power and authority came from God.
By witnessing these miraculous deeds people gave credence to the authenticity of His message of God's unconditional love.
But there are always people who will try to use our good deeds against us.
The same was true in Jesus' time. Many believed in Jesus but, many did not. His detractors demanded greater and greater "signs" in the hope that He would try and fail.
Jesus refused to play their game.
He replied to those who demanded signs,
"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."
The people of Jesus' time would have been very familiar with both the story of Jonah spending three days in the belly of a whale and the Queen of Sheba traveling a great distance to listen to the wisdom of Solomon.
"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."
His message was clear: Their forefathers had believed God's emissaries yet they would not believe the Son of God.
What is my faith in Jesus Christ based on? Is it depended upon miracles?
Do I doubt Jesus' power when my prayers are not answered the way I want?
My faith will be measured by the degree to which I trust that God knows what is best for my life and His will is sufficient for all of my needs.

"Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation." D. Elton Trueblood