Wednesday, 1st Week of Lent
Reading: Luke: 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 judgement 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. ‘
Reflection
Jesus’ mission has been to point the people to God and to reveal something of the compassion of the Father to them. Here we see where Jesus is frustrated at the hardness of heart of the pharisees and their resistance to believe that he is the son of God, the one who was sent to bring salvation to all people. They have witnessed many healing miracles The wedding feast of Cana’ (John 2:1), ‘Raising of the daughter of Jairus,’ (Mark 5:21, Matthew 9:18-26, Luke 8:40-56) ‘Healing of a woman with a haemorrhage,’ (Luke 8:43, Mark 5:25) but their stubbornness of heart blinds them to who Jesus is and the joy of salvation that is freely available to them if only they will listen. Jesus refers back to the Old Testament to reveal to the people that he is the son of God, the one who was sent to bring salvation to all people. He reminds them that Jonah’s mission was to call the people of Nineveh to repentance (Jonah 3:4-10). Jonah resists God’s call to him and it almost costs him his life when he is caught in a storm at sea and only saved by a whale in whose belly he rests for three days! His time of reflection compels him to do what God wants, he preaches the word of God to the people of Nineveh, they repent of their evil ways and are saved. Jesus states that there is someone greater than Jonah, Solomon or any of the prophets of the Old Testament here but they persist in their unbelief.
The people are blinded by their lack of faith and unbelief and Jesus once again points out to them that there is only one sign; he is the sign of God in their midst. If the people persist in their unbelief they will be condemned to a life outside of the kingdom of God because they have failed to believe in the presence of God in their midst and to repent of their wrongdoing.
During this time of Lent, I am once again challenged to reflect on my belief in God. Do I really believe that Jesus is the Son of God living amongst us this day? Do I allow myself to be challenged to turn away from sin and to turn back to God when I hear the words ‘Return to me with all your heart’ (Joel 2:12) Do I really believe that God has forgiven all my sin and wishes to draw me back to himself because of his great love for me (1 John 1-9) Lent offers all of us an opportunity to repent of our unbelief and to humbly acknowledge our sin and weakness to God so that we can be healed and our relationship with the divine restored. Some traditions offer the sacrament of reconciliation as a source of grace and communal healing. Is it available where you live and do you open to the grace that it offers to you. If it is not available are you able to ask your local priest / vicar to make this sacrament more readily available for all and in formats that suit different age groups and needs. Children, adolescents, the elderly, people living with disabilities, mental health challenges.
We are reminded not to be afraid to open your heart to God who wishes to restore all to fullness of life in him.
Prayer
Lord, I thank you for your faithfulness and love; heal my blindness to your goodness to me. Help me not to be afraid to repent of all that draws me away from you or your people.May I be a witness to you each moment of my life.I ask this in your name of Sign of God. Amen.
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