First reading Romans 1:1-7
Our apostolic mission is to preach the obedience of faith to all pagan nations
From Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus who has been called to be an apostle, and specially chosen to preach the Good News that God promised long ago through his prophets in the scriptures.
This news is about the Son of God who, according to the human nature he took was a descendant of David: it is about Jesus Christ our Lord who, in the order of the spirit, the spirit of holiness that was in him, was proclaimed Son of God in all his power through his resurrection from the dead. Through him we received grace and our apostolic mission to preach the obedience of faith to all pagan nations in honour of his name. You are one of these nations, and by his call belong to Jesus Christ. To you all, then, who are God’s beloved in Rome, called to be saints, may God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ send grace and peace.
Responsorial Psalm 97(98):1-4
The Lord has made known his salvation.
Sing a new song to the Lord
for he has worked wonders.
His right hand and his holy arm
have brought salvation.
The Lord has made known his salvation.
The Lord has made known his salvation;
has shown his justice to the nations.
He has remembered his truth and love
for the house of Israel.
The Lord has made known his salvation.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
Shout to the Lord, all the earth,
ring out your joy.
The Lord has made known his salvation.
Gospel Luke 11:29-32
As Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be a sign
The crowds got even bigger, and Jesus addressed them:
‘This is a wicked generation; it is asking for a sign. The only sign it will be given is the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. On Judgement day the Queen of the South will rise up with the men of this generation and 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. On Judgement day the men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation and condemn it, because when Jonah preached they repented; and there is something greater than Jonah here.’
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Jesus, the sign of all signs
‘…there is something greater than Solomon here… there is something greater than Jonah here.’ In the gospel, Jesus pointed out that He as greater than King Solomon and the Prophet Jonah. He is indeed greater than any person in the Old and New Testament because Jesus is he incarnated Word of God, the Son of God. God has become flesh in Him. When we meet the person of Jesus, we see God in His words, His actions, in His whole life.
The people in today’s passage asked for a sign because they failed to recognise the greatest sign in their midst, Jesus Himself. Therefore, as we prayerfully read the passage, let us allow Jesus to open the eyes of our faith to see Him present in us, in the Scripture, in the Eucharist, in others. Let us listen to His call to encounter Him, who is the greatest sign of God’s love for us.
Question for reflection:
Do I perceive Jesus’ presence in my daily life?
Do I perceive Jesus’ presence in my daily life?
