Greetings on this the Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Micah 6:1-4, 6-8; Psalm 50:5-6, 8-9, 16bc-17, 21, 23; Matthew 12:38-42
Summary
You have been told, O man, what is good,
and what the LORD requires of you:
Only to do the right and to love goodness,
and to walk humbly with your God.
This instruction from the prophet Micah should be enough. You need not read any further than this. If Micah makes sense then follow your heart and do it. But we rarely can settle for the obvious. It’s just the way things are.
Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.
Here is the commentary on the request for a Sign: The scribes and Pharisees refuse to accept the exorcisms of Jesus as authentication of his claims and demand a sign that will end all possibility of doubt. Jesus’ response is that no such sign will be given. Because his opponents are evil and see him as an agent of Satan, nothing will convince them. (See https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/12?38)
Reflection
Doubt is a constant human problem. Sometimes it arises for good reason. At other times it grows from disappointment, disillusionment, betrayal, or fear. Doubting another person after betrayal is understandable. Past betrayal may explain our caution, but it cannot safely become a judgment transferred to every person, every relationship, or to God. Self-doubt can be even harder to overcome.
So let’s turn the question around.
Christians, we wish a sign from you.
- We have the visual signs: Sign of the Cross, the Crucifix, the images of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and prayers (ritual and extemporaneous).
- Then we have the famous Letter of James quote: Indeed someone may say, “You have faith and I have works.” Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works (Jas 2:18).
In our gospel portion today, the only sign given is the Sign of Jonah. We immediately think of the three days in the sepulchre and that is good. The three days in the tomb are Christ’s decisive sign. Our answering sign is conversion—a life changed by his death and resurrection. So here I prescribe for you a mini retreat like the Sign of Jonah.
Give the sign of Jonah, and begin again. Take some time today for this exercise.
- The Storm – Identify the storm within you. The resistance to the divine call to do what is right, to love goodness, and to walk humbly with the humble Lord.
- Enter the Belly (solitude and darkness) – Spend some time with your doubts, disappointments. Name them. Honor them. Ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
- Surrender Them – Pray like Jonah – Jonah prayed to the LORD, his God, from the belly of the fish: Out of my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me; From the womb of Sheol I cried for help, and you heard my voice (Jon 2:2-3).
- Reenter the Nineveh before you—the world whose response you cannot control—with renewed purpose.
Jonah was first converted, then sent as a sign.
BTW, Jonah still had more purification to come and the story doesn’t end with his perfection but his continuous struggle to change and humbly follow the Lord.
Why do we think it would be easier for us?
Personal Reflection
Lord, we demand signs from you all the time.
But today we’ll reverse it.
Here is my Sign for You.
There is a storm that needs calming, a solitude that needs encountering, a surrender that needs expressing and a reengagement that needs empowering.
Help me to become the sign I keep demanding from Christ.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created,
and you shall renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray.
O God, who have taught the hearts of the faithful
by the light of the Holy Spirit,
grant that in the same Spirit we may be truly wise
and ever rejoice in his consolation.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/072026.cfm
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry