Sacred Scripture
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.” (Luke 11:29-32)
Reflection
Many of the Jews who had been influenced by the Scribes and the Pharisees were seeking signs from Jesus, despite the fact that Jesus had been working many signs.
Likewise, these same critics weren’t accepting any of Jesus’ other signs, his many miracles of healing and feeding. They were essentially only looking for signs that corresponded to their preconceived prejudices, that if Jesus were the Messiah, then he would work signs that pointed to his liberating them from the Romans and establishing a political renewal of the Davidic Kingdom.
Looking for signs that they wanted.
The generation he was preaching to, and in a sense every generation of fallen humanity, is evil. We have a strong tendency to be self-centered, self-absorbed, greedy, lustful, insensitive to God’s voice and to the needs of those around us. Only a few members of that growing crowd would faithfully follow Jesus until the end. They were seeking quick fixes for their worldly problems; they weren’t seeking the best way to glorify God and advance Christ’s Kingdom.
If more than a few made Jesus Christ the center of their lives, there would be no more evil generation.
What wonders he could do in our lives if only we wouldn’t relegate him to the sidelines. Instead of focusing on him, we elect secular Gods to occupy our minds.
Too many spend their time, energy and life on everything but Jesus. Endlessly, too many debate and hate what is around them. Voices that could rise in pray instead are raised in anger against other people, people who do not match their preconception of what life should be.
Instead of carrying the cross of Christ, too many carry placards of hatred. Read the signs they carry. Look at their posts on social media. Are the words you read the words of a follower of Christ?
Do we really think that Jesus Christ came to encourage a society where every person’s will could be imposed on another so that one is elevated against another?
Jesus came to build a kingdom where brother helped brother where EVERONE counted. Where EVERYONE was loved equally. Where EVERYONE was respected. Where EVERYONE’s dignity was affirmed.
God searches our hearts, not to condemn us, but to show us where we need his saving grace and help. He calls us to seek him with true repentance, humility, and the honesty to see our sins for what they really are – a rejection of his love and will for our lives.
Listen to God’s word of wisdom and you will find true life and everlasting joy
God will transform us if we listen to his word and allow his Holy Spirit to work in our lives.
A double-minded person cannot receive this kind of wisdom. The single of heart desire one thing alone – God’s pleasure. God wants us to delight in him and to know the freedom of his truth and love.
Living our daily lives against the true horizon of eternal life can only bring us greater wisdom, peace, and joy even now, let alone beyond the grave.
Prayer of The Day
“Lord Jesus, give me a heart that loves what is good and in accord with your will and fill me with your wisdom that I may understand your ways. Give me the grace and the courage to reject whatever is evil and contrary to your will.”
Daily Note
Today it’s important for us to become a “good and holy generation” in contrast to the receptivity of those whom Jesus was calling out in today’s Gospel. We’re called not only to accept the signs of Jesus’ call to conversion, his wisdom and his death and resurrection, but to become so united to him that we become signs of Jesus’ death and resurrection, signs of his wisdom, signs of his summons to conversion in the midst of the world.
