Reflections on Scripture | Monday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time

Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

Choose either the video or audio below.

Gospel
Matthew 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."

Reflection

Jesus knows his audience. And the Pharisees when they were asking for a sign. Were simply saying something that had no meaning whatsoever in terms of the reality of who they were.

They were not open to any sign. And so Jesus gives an example of pagans who responded to signs much less clear than He Himself was now offering the world. The danger in anything that we do in terms of spirituality is a closed mind, an unwillingness to openness to what is real and true. That's our obligation. I want to know. I want to see.

Closing Prayer

Jesus, nothing seems more important than for our hearts to be wide open to everything you long to show us and teach us. Help us to recognize the importance of that is our role to be open, and not to worry so much about what we're doing, but worrying about what we see and what we know and what we feel. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Reflections Archives

Kyle Cross