THE SIGN OF THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS - 10/10/22 (Monday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time)

Luke 11:29

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.”  

For the full readings, click here: 

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101022.cfm

Blessed Monday! Why did Jesus call the generation of His time an evil generation? It's because the people were always seeking for signs. It's true that God performs signs or miracles for people to believe. However, the problem during the time of Jesus was that despite seeing the numerous wonders done by our Lord, they remained closed to what He's preaching. They still were seeking for signs as if what Jesus was doing, such as miraculous healing, exorcisms, and many more, were not enough. The truth is that we also live in an evil generation today. There are many people who oppose the Catholic Church and go against the teachings of Jesus Christ. Because God desires for us to know the truth, He performed numerous miracles in the history of the Catholic Church  even those which were verified by science, just to convince even the skeptics. Some examples are seen in the article below this reflection. And yet, we live in a generation which is not open even to the miracles from God because of attachments to worldly lifestyle and perspective. 

The people whom Jesus was referring to were unworthy of His graces because they chose to not be open to the message of Christ. But, despite their sinfulness, Jesus mentioned one sign that He would do, the sign of Jonah. Jonah was a prophet of God who was swallowed by a big fish, and when he walked on the land of Nineveh through the fish, the people repented after listening to his warning. The sign pertains to the sufferings of Jesus, to His death and to His resurrection because the experience of Jonah represented being dead and being raised from the dead. In the sufferings and death of Jesus in the cross, the sins of mankind were in His mind and Sacred Heart which caused pains that were worse than physical pains He endured. 

And yet, the mercy of God which desires our salvation is manifested in the sacrifice of Jesus. He offered Himself as a sacrifice for our salvation. Despite our sins, our good works and our desire to be faithful to God were in the mind of Jesus. He rose from the dead as a sign of His victory against death. This is what gives us hope of everlasting life.  We can also share in the resurrection of Jesus if we share in His sufferings while we are here on earth. When people whom we know may oppose us due to our Catholic faith, let's reflect on the sign of Christ's sacrifice for us to endure these trials and learn to love them despite their imperfections. Doing this enables us to imitate the love of Christ and be a sign for the world. 

Our Lord Jesus said that the queen of the south would condemn the evil generation. Its because deapite the great distance between the queen and Solomon, she still came to see him and his wisdom. Jesus Christ is infinitely greater than Solomon. Jesus doesn't just have a wisdom, but He is the Wisdom of the Father and the Living Word od God. If the queen was willing to travel foe a very long time, then how come that some of us do not come to Jesus who dwells within is? We have all the reasons to spend time with Him and to speak to Him always. Persevering in our prayer life may be difficult, but this is a cross that will bring us to everlasting life if we are willing to carry it. Some of us may recognize the times that we are not faithful to the teachings of Christ and the Church. We may remember the times that we choose other distractions like social media over prayer. May this be an inspiration for us to be more humble and to trust in Jesus who desires for us to be freed from slavery to sin. He is the Sign of God's mercy for us. Let's accept His gift of merciful love and praise Him forever in heaven. 

Amen +

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, be with us always until the hour of our death. Amen. +

 

May the Lord + bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. +  

Reflection by: Dominic

Catholic Miracles:

https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/miracles-and-evangelism

Summary and Defense of Catholic Teachings:

https://www.catholic.com/tract/pillar-of-fire-pillar-of-truth

Ultimate Catholic Parents Guide:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ls6IcexZAls

Examination of Conscience and Guide to Sacrament of Confession:

https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/examination-of-conscience/