24 July, 2023 | Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel Mt 12:38-42

Some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus,

"Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you."

He said to them in reply,

"An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign,

but no sign will be given it

except the sign of Jonah the prophet.

Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights,

so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth

three days and three nights.

At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation

and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah;

and there is something greater than Jonah here.

At the judgment the queen of the south will arise with this generation

and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth

to hear the wisdom of Solomon;

and there is something greater than Solomon here."

Reflections:

Jesus condemns the obstinacy of the scribes and Pharisees. The sign that Jesus gives us is his resurrection from the dead. The scribes and Pharisees were demanding that Jesus proves to them that he was the Messiah. Jesus’ rebuke is that even wicked gentiles who were God’s enemies repented when God sent a mere prophet. Jesus has only one sign to give us: himself after the resurrection.That is the supreme sign of the Father’s confirmation of his Word and of all he stands for. They wanted the proof that he was possessed with supernatural power.

Activity: 

Ask yourself, ‘how deep is my faith? Does it depend on dramatic things happening in answer to my prayer? Or do I simply and humbly place my faith and hope in the person of Jesus Christ?’