October 14, 2019 – Monday 28^th Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke (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.”

Homily

Are you looking for a sign from God?

We usually ask God to give us signs when we are making decisions. We also ask signs from God especially when we become doubtful of His presence in times problems and trials in life. We believe that if God would give us a sign, then, that will make us confident in God.

However, it has been our experience too, that when we do not receive any sign from God, we begin to doubt more or become angry with God for not listening to us. We may think that life is so unfair because even a single sign of assurance is not given to us.

Yet, we are reminded today of our tendency to expect spectacular signs that will be unfolded before us. This is actually the problem that we have heard in the Gospel today.

The people asked Jesus for a sign so that they will believe in him. The people expected Jesus to do a big and great sign before their eyes before they will recognize God. This was the mistake of the people at that time because they asked sign from Jesus, when, in fact, Jesus was actually the greatest sign and miracle that ever happened.

That is why, Jesus, as if scolding them of their ignorance and indifference, reminded them on how the Ninevites believed in Jonah’s sign and on how the Queen of Sheba believed also in the signs present with King Solomon. However, these people though Jesus was greater than Jonah and Solomon, did not recognize God in the person of Jesus.

This happens also to us when we tend to be indifferent to what is ordinary. The Jews at that time were not able to recognize God’s tremendous presence in the ordinary life of Jesus. Because Jesus was too ordinary for them, and a mere son of a carpenter from a far barrio of Nazareth, the people refused to believe in Jesus and thus, refused to recognize God in Jesus.

The Lord reveals himself to us in ordinary ways. This is what Jesus tells us today. We are reminded to be more discerning and to listen better on how Jesus reveals himself in the most ordinary way.

Let us be discerning and be sensitive to God’s many revelations even in the most ordinary ways because God reveals himself and his love to us every day and every moment of our life. Hinaut pa.

Jom Baring, CSsR