Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 395
Lectionary: 395
Hear what the LORD says:
Arise, present your plea before the mountains,
and let the hills hear your voice!
Hear, O mountains, the plea of the LORD,
pay attention, O foundations of the earth!
For the LORD has a plea against his people,
and he enters into trial with Israel.
O my people, what have I done to you,
or how have I wearied you? Answer me!
For I brought you up from the land of Egypt,
from the place of slavery I released you;
and I sent before you Moses,
Aaron, and Miriam.
With what shall I come before the LORD,
and bow before God most high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
with myriad streams of oil?
Shall I give my first-born for my crime,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
You have been told, O man, what is good,
and what the LORD requires of you:
Only to do the right and to love goodness,
and to walk humbly with your God.
Arise, present your plea before the mountains,
and let the hills hear your voice!
Hear, O mountains, the plea of the LORD,
pay attention, O foundations of the earth!
For the LORD has a plea against his people,
and he enters into trial with Israel.
O my people, what have I done to you,
or how have I wearied you? Answer me!
For I brought you up from the land of Egypt,
from the place of slavery I released you;
and I sent before you Moses,
Aaron, and Miriam.
With what shall I come before the LORD,
and bow before God most high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
with myriad streams of oil?
Shall I give my first-born for my crime,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
You have been told, O man, what is good,
and what the LORD requires of you:
Only to do the right and to love goodness,
and to walk humbly with your God.
R. (23b) To the upright I will show the saving power of
God.
“Gather my faithful ones before me,
those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
And the heavens proclaim his justice;
for God himself is the judge.
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
for your burnt offerings are before me always.
I take from your house no bullock,
no goats out of your fold.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Why do you recite my statutes,
and profess my covenant with your mouth,
Though you hate discipline
and cast my words behind you?”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it?
Or do you think that I am like yourself?
I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes.
He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;
and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Gather my faithful ones before me,
those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
And the heavens proclaim his justice;
for God himself is the judge.
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
for your burnt offerings are before me always.
I take from your house no bullock,
no goats out of your fold.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Why do you recite my statutes,
and profess my covenant with your mouth,
Though you hate discipline
and cast my words behind you?”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it?
Or do you think that I am like yourself?
I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes.
He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;
and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
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.”
“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.”
Meditation: "An adulterous generation seeks for a sign"
What would the Lord Jesus say about our generation? Jesus gave a
rather stern warning to his generation when they demanded a sign from him. It
was characteristic of the Jews that they demanded "signs" from God's
messengers to authenticate their claims. Jesus faulted them for one
thing: spiritual adultery. The image of adultery was often used in
the Scriptures for describing apostasy or infidelity towards God.
Signs from God
When the religious leaders pressed Jesus to give proof for his claims to be the Messiah sent from God, he says in so many words that he is God's sign and that they need no further evidence from heaven than his own person. The Ninevites recognized God's warning when Jonah spoke to them, and they repented (Jonah 3:5). And the Queen of Sheba recognized God's wisdom in Solomon (1 Kings 10:1-9). Jonah was God's sign and his message was the message of God for the people of Nineveh. Unfortunately the religious leaders of Jesus' day were not content to accept the signs right before their eyes. They had rejected the message of John the Baptist and now they reject Jesus as God's Anointed One (Messiah) and they fail to heed his message.
When the religious leaders pressed Jesus to give proof for his claims to be the Messiah sent from God, he says in so many words that he is God's sign and that they need no further evidence from heaven than his own person. The Ninevites recognized God's warning when Jonah spoke to them, and they repented (Jonah 3:5). And the Queen of Sheba recognized God's wisdom in Solomon (1 Kings 10:1-9). Jonah was God's sign and his message was the message of God for the people of Nineveh. Unfortunately the religious leaders of Jesus' day were not content to accept the signs right before their eyes. They had rejected the message of John the Baptist and now they reject Jesus as God's Anointed One (Messiah) and they fail to heed his message.
Simeon had prophesied at Jesus' birth that he was destined for
the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against...
that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed (Luke 2:34-35). Jesus
confirmed his message with many miracles in preparation for the greatest sign
of all - his resurrection on the third day.
The Holy Spirit's gift of wisdom and understanding
The Lord Jesus, through the gift of his Holy Spirit, offers us freedom from sin and ignorance, and he gives us wisdom and understanding so that we may grow in knowledge of God and his ways. Do you thirst for God and for the wisdom which comes from above? James the Apostle says that the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity(James 3:17). A double-minded person cannot receive this kind of wisdom. If we wish to be wise in God's ways, then we must humble ourselves before him, like attentive students who wish to learn, and submit our heart and mind to his will for our lives.
The Lord Jesus, through the gift of his Holy Spirit, offers us freedom from sin and ignorance, and he gives us wisdom and understanding so that we may grow in knowledge of God and his ways. Do you thirst for God and for the wisdom which comes from above? James the Apostle says that the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity(James 3:17). A double-minded person cannot receive this kind of wisdom. If we wish to be wise in God's ways, then we must humble ourselves before him, like attentive students who wish to learn, and submit our heart and mind to his will for our lives.
The single of heart and mind desire one thing alone - God who is
the source of all wisdom, goodness, truth, and knowledge. Do you wish to be
wise and loving as God is wise and loving? Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with
the wisdom which comes from above and to free your heart from all that would
hinder God's loving action in your life.
"Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit that I may grow
in wisdom and knowledge of your love and truth. Free me from stubborn pride and
wilfulness that I may wholly desire to do what is pleasing to you."
 Jonah, Dodim & Ahabà |
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July 21, 2014, Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
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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."
Introductory Prayer: Lord, my prayer will “work” only if I have humility in
your presence. So I am approaching you with meekness and humility of heart. I
have an infinite need for you and your grace. Thinking about this helps me
grow in humility. I trust in you and your grace. Thank you for the
unfathomable gift of your love.
Petition: Lord, let me love the way you love – with self-giving
generosity.
1. Demanding the Impossible: “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from
you.” The relationship of the scribes and Pharisees with Jesus is unidirectional.
They demand that he perform a sign if he wishes to be found worthy of their
esteem, but they have closed their hearts to any possible openness toward him
in xxadvance. Pride makes impossible demands on others and will not be
satisfied until these impossible demands are met! Thus pride is never
satisfied. It is the cause of division, resentment and bitterness in
relationships. Rather than make demands on Christ, we need to make demands on
ourselves. We need to make demands that we grow in humility, selflessness and
authentic love in imitation of the Lord.
2. Dodim and Ahabà: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI teaches us about self-giving love in his encyclical letter, Deus Caritas Est. Commenting on the Song of Songs, he writes: “The poems contained in this book were originally love-songs, perhaps intended for a Jewish wedding feast and meant to exalt conjugal love. In this context it is highly instructive to note that in the course of the book two different Hebrew words are used to indicate ‘love.’ First there is the word dodim, a plural form suggesting a love that is still insecure, indeterminate and searching. This comes to be replaced by the word ahabà. By contrast with an indeterminate, ‘searching’ love, this word expresses the experience of a love which involves a real discovery of the other, moving beyond the selfish character that prevailed earlier. Love now becomes concern and care for the other. No longer is it self-seeking, a sinking in the intoxication of happiness; instead it seeks the good of the beloved, it becomes renunciation and it is ready, and even willing, for sacrifice” (no. 6).
3. Nineveh and Love: Jesus tells us that at the Judgment, the men of Nineveh
will arise with the generation of people surrounding him and condemn it. The
reason is that the contemporaries of Jonah repented at his preaching. True
self-giving love begins with repentance. When I repent I acknowledge the
person of God who is worthy of all my love. I feel remorse for having loved
him so little or for having offended him who is all love. Love-filled remorse
implies a bending of my will affectionately toward the other. This is a form
a self-giving love that we can all achieve at any moment of our lives.
Conversation with Christ: Lord, I love you. I want to strengthen
the habit of self-giving love within me. Presently my love is weak and
short-lived. I can always practice loving sorrow for having offended you.
Lord, grant me the grace of practicing contrition of heart throughout the
day. c
Resolution: Today I will practice contrition in order to grow in
effective love.
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MONDAY, JULY 21, MATTHEW
12:38-42
(Micah 6:1-4, 6-8; Psalm 50)
(Micah 6:1-4, 6-8; Psalm 50)
KEY VERSE: "An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign" (v 39).
READING: The scribes and Pharisees demanded evidence from Jesus that his works came from God and not from the evil one (v 24). Jesus said that it was the religious leaders who were evil, since they preferred a religion of legalism to one that made moral demands of them. Jesus told them that the people of Nineveh repented because of Jonah's preaching, not because of signs and wonders (Jon 3:10). The Queen of Sheba sought Solomon's wisdom, not his magic (1 Kgs 10:1-10). Jesus was greater than either Jonah or Solomon, yet the people refused to believe in him. The only sign he would give those faithless ones was the "Sign of Jonah," the three days the prophet spent in the belly of the whale (Jon 2), a sign of Jesus' impending death and resurrection.
REFLECTING: Do I need evidence to have faith in Jesus?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to see you in the everyday circumstances of my life.
Optional Memorial of
Lawrence of Brindisi, priest and doctor of the Church
Lawrence of Brindisi joined the Capuchin Friars at age 16. Ordained a priest, he taught theology and served as linguist and military chaplain. Lawrence rallied the German princes to fight the Turks, and was asked to lead the army into battle carrying no weapon but a crucifix. The Turks were completely defeated. Lawrence was made Master General of his order in 1602. As a Diplomat, he carried out important and successful peace missions to Munich and Madrid. Lawrence was an effective and forceful preacher, and he wrote catechisms. In 1956, the Capuchin order compiled fifteen volumes of his sermons, letters and writings. He was proclaimed Apostolic Doctor of the Church by Pope John XXIII in 1959.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
Part of a Community
God saves the world by undoing Babel, which happened when a people
became just people, all doing their own thing. They did not love each other so
they did not love God. They did not love God, so they did not love each other.
Babel babbles—no communication because no community.
Lord, you are good and forgiving
‘The righteous shall shine in the sun in the kingdom of their
Father.’God is just and kind, the epitome of the perfect leader, the loving father or mother. God, who is goodness and love, sows for goodness, but the seeds of malignity take root among the good. This is the messiness of life, the good with the bad and the ugly. It’s less uniform rows of healthy wheat ready for easy harvest and more an overgrown, entangled mess of jungle. That which hinders goodness and love is part of the garden of daily life. There are beautiful blossoms and vicious thorns, edible fruit and toxic berries. In life’s garden, when we listen with ears open and hearts receptive to the Spirit, we will grow as God intended—more confidently, unafraid, towards the light.
July
21
St. Lawrence of Brindisi
(1559-1619)
St. Lawrence of Brindisi
(1559-1619)
At first glance perhaps the most remarkable quality of Lawrence of
Brindisi is his outstanding gift of languages. In addition to a thorough
knowledge of his native Italian, he had complete reading and speaking ability
in Latin, Hebrew, Greek, German, Bohemian, Spanish and French.
He was
born on July 22, 1559, and died exactly 60 years later on his birthday in 1619.
His parents William and Elizabeth Russo gave him the name of Julius Caesar,
Caesare in Italian. After the early death of his parents, he was educated by
his uncle at the College of St. Mark in Venice.
When he
was just 16 he entered the Capuchin Franciscan Order in Venice and received the
name of Lawrence. He completed his studies of philosophy and theology at the
University of Padua and was ordained a priest at 23.
With his
facility for languages he was able to study the Bible in its original texts. At
the request of Pope Clement VIII, he spent much time preaching to the Jews in
Italy. So excellent was his knowledge of Hebrew, the rabbis felt sure he was a
Jew who had become a Christian.
In 1956
the Capuchins completed a 15-volume edition of his writings. Eleven of these 15
contain his sermons, each of which relies chiefly on scriptural quotations to
illustrate his teaching.
Lawrence’s
sensitivity to the needs of people—a character trait perhaps unexpected in such
a talented scholar—began to surface. He was elected major superior of the
Capuchin Franciscan province of Tuscany at the age of 31. He had the
combination of brilliance, human compassion and administrative skill needed to
carry out his duties. In rapid succession he was promoted by his fellow
Capuchins and was elected minister general of the Capuchins in 1602. In this
position he was responsible for great growth and geographical expansion of the
Order.
Lawrence
was appointed papal emissary and peacemaker, a job which took him to a number
of foreign countries. An effort to achieve peace in his native kingdom of
Naples took him on a journey to Lisbon to visit the king of Spain. Serious
illness in Lisbon took his life in 1619.
Comment:
His constant devotion to Scripture, coupled with great sensitivity to the needs of people, present a lifestyle which appeals to Christians today. Lawrence had a balance in his life that blended self-discipline with a keen appreciation for the needs of those whom he was called to serve.
His constant devotion to Scripture, coupled with great sensitivity to the needs of people, present a lifestyle which appeals to Christians today. Lawrence had a balance in his life that blended self-discipline with a keen appreciation for the needs of those whom he was called to serve.
Quote:
“God is love, and all his operations proceed from love. Once he wills to manifest that goodness by sharing his love outside himself, then the Incarnation becomes the supreme manifestation of his goodness and love and glory. So, Christ was intended before all other creatures and for his own sake. For him all things were created and to him all things must be subject, and God loves all creatures in and because of Christ. Christ is the first-born of every creature, and the whole of humanity as well as the created world finds its foundation and meaning in him. Moreover, this would have been the case even if Adam had not sinned” (St. Lawrence of Brindisi, Doctor of the Universal Church, Capuchin Educational Conference, Washington, D.C.).
“God is love, and all his operations proceed from love. Once he wills to manifest that goodness by sharing his love outside himself, then the Incarnation becomes the supreme manifestation of his goodness and love and glory. So, Christ was intended before all other creatures and for his own sake. For him all things were created and to him all things must be subject, and God loves all creatures in and because of Christ. Christ is the first-born of every creature, and the whole of humanity as well as the created world finds its foundation and meaning in him. Moreover, this would have been the case even if Adam had not sinned” (St. Lawrence of Brindisi, Doctor of the Universal Church, Capuchin Educational Conference, Washington, D.C.).
LECTIO DIVINA:
MATTHEW 12,38-42
Lectio:
Monday, July 21, 2014
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Lord,
be merciful to your people.
Fill us with your gifts
and make us always eager to serve you
in faith, hope and love.
You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
be merciful to your people.
Fill us with your gifts
and make us always eager to serve you
in faith, hope and love.
You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading - Matthew 12,38-42
Some of the scribes and Pharisees spoke up. 'Master,' they said,
'we should like to see a sign from you.' He replied, 'It is an evil and
unfaithful generation that asks for a sign! The only sign it will be given is
the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah remained in the belly of the
sea-monster for three days and three nights, so will the Son of man be in the
heart of the earth for three days and three nights.
On Judgement Day the men of Nineveh will appear against this generation and they will be its condemnation, because when Jonah preached they repented; and look, there is something greater than Jonah here.
On Judgement Day the Queen of the South will appear against this generation and be its condemnation, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and look, there is something greater than Solomon here.
On Judgement Day the men of Nineveh will appear against this generation and they will be its condemnation, because when Jonah preached they repented; and look, there is something greater than Jonah here.
On Judgement Day the Queen of the South will appear against this generation and be its condemnation, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and look, there is something greater than Solomon here.
3) Reflection
• Today’s Gospel presents to us a discussion between Jesus and
the religious authority of the time. This time, the doctors of the law and the
Pharisees are those who ask Jesus for a sign. Jesus had made many signs: he had
cured the leper (Mt 8,1-4), the servant of the centurion (Mt 8,5-13), Peter’s
mother-in-law (Mt 8,14-15), the sick and the possessed of the city (Mt 8,16),
he had calmed down the storm (Mt 8,23-27), had cast out the devils (Mt 8,28-34)
and had worked many other miracles. The people seeing all these signs recognize
in Jesus the Servant of Yahweh (Mt 8,17; 12,17-21). But the doctors and the
Pharisees were not capable to perceive the significance of so many signs which
Jesus had made. They wanted something different.
• Matthew 12,38: The request for a sign made by the Pharisees and the doctors. The Pharisees arrived and said to Jesus: Master, we should like to see a sign from you". They want Jesus to make a sign for them, a miracle, and thus they will be able to verify and examine if Jesus is or not the one who is sent by God according to what they imagined and expected. They wanted to ascertain it, to be sure. They wanted to submit Jesus to their own criteria, in such a way as to be able to place him into their own Messianic frame. There is no openness in them for a possible conversation. They had understood nothing of all that Jesus had done.
• Mathew 12,39: The response of Jesus: the sign of Jonah. Jesus does not submit himself to the request of the religious authority, because it is not sincere: “An evil and unfaithful generation that asks for a sign! The only sign that will be given them is the sign of the prophet Jonah”. These words constitute a very strong judgment regarding the doctors and the Pharisees. They evoke the oracle of Hosea who denounced the people, accusing it of being an unfaithful and adulterous spouse (Ho 2,4). The Gospel of Mark says that Jesus before the request of the Pharisees sighed profoundly (Mk 8,12), probably out of indignation and of sadness before such a great blindness: because it is not worthwhile to place a beautiful picture before someone who does not want to open the eyes. Anyone who closes the eyes cannot see! The only sign which will be given to them is the sign of Jonah.
• Matthew 12,41: There is something greater than Jonah here. Jesus looks toward the future: “For as Jonah remained in the belly of the sea monster for three days and three nights, so will the son of man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights”. Therefore, the only sign will be the resurrection of Jesus which will be prolonged in the resurrection of his followers. This is the sign which will be given to the doctors and the Pharisees in the future. They will be placed before the fact that Jesus, condemned to death by them and to the death of the cross, God will raise him from the dead and he will continue, in many ways to raise those who believe in him., for example, he will raise them in the witness of the apostles, “persons without instruction” who will have had the courage to face authority announcing the resurrection of Jesus (Ac 4,13). What converts is witness, not miracles: “On Judgment day the men of Nineveh will appear against this generation and they will be its condemnation, because when Jonah preached they repented”. The people of Nineveh converted because of the witness of the preaching of Jonah and they denounced the unbelief of the doctors and the Pharisees: because “Look, there is something greater than Jonah here”.
• Matthew 12,42: There is something greater than Solomon here. The reference to the conversion of the people of Nineveh is associated and makes one recall the episode of the Queen of the South. “On Judgment Day the Queen of the South will appear against this generation and be its condemnation, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon and look, there is something greater than Solomon here!” This reminder of the episode of the Queen of the South who recognizes the wisdom of Solomon, indicates how the Bible was used at that time. By association: the principal rule of interpretation was the following: “The Bible is explained through the Bible”. Up until now this is one of the more important norms for the interpretation of the Bible, especially for the prayerful reading of the Word of God.
• Matthew 12,38: The request for a sign made by the Pharisees and the doctors. The Pharisees arrived and said to Jesus: Master, we should like to see a sign from you". They want Jesus to make a sign for them, a miracle, and thus they will be able to verify and examine if Jesus is or not the one who is sent by God according to what they imagined and expected. They wanted to ascertain it, to be sure. They wanted to submit Jesus to their own criteria, in such a way as to be able to place him into their own Messianic frame. There is no openness in them for a possible conversation. They had understood nothing of all that Jesus had done.
• Mathew 12,39: The response of Jesus: the sign of Jonah. Jesus does not submit himself to the request of the religious authority, because it is not sincere: “An evil and unfaithful generation that asks for a sign! The only sign that will be given them is the sign of the prophet Jonah”. These words constitute a very strong judgment regarding the doctors and the Pharisees. They evoke the oracle of Hosea who denounced the people, accusing it of being an unfaithful and adulterous spouse (Ho 2,4). The Gospel of Mark says that Jesus before the request of the Pharisees sighed profoundly (Mk 8,12), probably out of indignation and of sadness before such a great blindness: because it is not worthwhile to place a beautiful picture before someone who does not want to open the eyes. Anyone who closes the eyes cannot see! The only sign which will be given to them is the sign of Jonah.
• Matthew 12,41: There is something greater than Jonah here. Jesus looks toward the future: “For as Jonah remained in the belly of the sea monster for three days and three nights, so will the son of man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights”. Therefore, the only sign will be the resurrection of Jesus which will be prolonged in the resurrection of his followers. This is the sign which will be given to the doctors and the Pharisees in the future. They will be placed before the fact that Jesus, condemned to death by them and to the death of the cross, God will raise him from the dead and he will continue, in many ways to raise those who believe in him., for example, he will raise them in the witness of the apostles, “persons without instruction” who will have had the courage to face authority announcing the resurrection of Jesus (Ac 4,13). What converts is witness, not miracles: “On Judgment day the men of Nineveh will appear against this generation and they will be its condemnation, because when Jonah preached they repented”. The people of Nineveh converted because of the witness of the preaching of Jonah and they denounced the unbelief of the doctors and the Pharisees: because “Look, there is something greater than Jonah here”.
• Matthew 12,42: There is something greater than Solomon here. The reference to the conversion of the people of Nineveh is associated and makes one recall the episode of the Queen of the South. “On Judgment Day the Queen of the South will appear against this generation and be its condemnation, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon and look, there is something greater than Solomon here!” This reminder of the episode of the Queen of the South who recognizes the wisdom of Solomon, indicates how the Bible was used at that time. By association: the principal rule of interpretation was the following: “The Bible is explained through the Bible”. Up until now this is one of the more important norms for the interpretation of the Bible, especially for the prayerful reading of the Word of God.
4) Personal questions
• To be converted means to be completely changed morally, but
also to change the ideas and the way of thinking. A moralist is one who changes
behaviour but keeps unaltered his way of thinking. And I how am I?
• Before the renewal of the Church today, am I a Pharisee who asks for a sign or am I like the people who recognize that this is the way wanted by God?
• Before the renewal of the Church today, am I a Pharisee who asks for a sign or am I like the people who recognize that this is the way wanted by God?
5) Concluding Prayer
Better your faithful love than life itself;
my lips will praise you.
Thus I will bless you all my life,
in your name lift up my hands. (Ps 63,3-4)
my lips will praise you.
Thus I will bless you all my life,
in your name lift up my hands. (Ps 63,3-4)
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