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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.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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There’s a story retold from the French Revolution about a group of Christians imprisoned in a dungeon.
For a brief moment each day, the sun rose to a certain angle, causing a ray of light to penetrate their cell. As the light came in, one of the prisoners was hoisted onto another’s shoulders, where he opened his bible and proclaimed what he read.
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I wonder what verses they heard. Perhaps one of the following:
“For I know well the plans I have for you, says the Lord.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
“Come to me all you who are heavy burdened and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
“Whoever hears my word and believes in him who sent me has eternal life.” (John 5:24)
“This is my Body…this is my Blood…do this in memory of me.” (Luke 22:19)
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At the darkest moment of their lives, these Christians turned to the Word of God, and believed.
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In today’s Gospel, Jesus condemns the scribes and Pharisees for their hardened hearts. They’ve seen him heal people and cast out demons; they’ve heard him preach. Yet his Word is not enough for them. They want more and more “signs.”
“But no [other] sign will be given it, except Jonah the prophet,” Jesus says. Meaning, they should repent and believe like their ancestors.
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At times we’re all tempted to want more proof that God is real. But the words he speaks in the Gospels, along with the countless prayers he’s already answered, should be enough to assure us that God is alive … and in touch.
Like those Christians huddled in a dungeon, may we hear the Word of God and receive it for what it is: “A lamp for our feet, a light for our path” (Psalm 119).
Each in our own way, repent and believe in the Gospel.
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Image credits: (1) Mission Dei Catholic (2) Grace Notes Ministries (3) Faith+Blog