March 08, 2017

St. John of God

Lk 11: 29-32

When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation. The queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here!

The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here!

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.

Seeking a Sign

The question posed by today’s Gospel is why some people (the Ninevites who responded to the Prophet Jonah and the Queen of Sheba who responded to the wisdom of Solomon) experience conversion while others (those looking for a “sign” in today’s Gospel) do not.

I don’t know if we are much different from the crowds in today’s Gospel looking for a “sign.”  When we look for meaning and fulfillment in our lives, do we seek out the wrong “signs” provided by our culture?  Our culture teaches us that happiness is a product of what we have—be it wealth, abilities, status, attractiveness, power. Do we grasp for these things, or are we open to recognizing that there is “something greater here”?

Pope Francis once noted that “people listen to the radio, to television, and to gossip throughout the day, but do we take a bit of time each day to listen to Jesus?” How can we grow this Lent in listening to Jesus and quieting the other “signs” that compete for our attention each day?    

—Dave Lawler is a Campus Minister atCreighton Preparatory School in Omaha, NE.

Prayer

Nothing is more practical than finding God,
than falling in Love in a quite absolute, final way.
What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything.
It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning,
what you do with your evenings, how you spend your weekends,
what you read, whom you know, what breaks your heart,
and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.
Fall in Love, stay in love, and it will decide everything.

—Fr. Pedro Arrupe, S.J.