From the Gospel according to Luke 11:29-32

While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them,
“This generation is an evil generation;
it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it,
except the sign of Jonah.
Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,
so will the Son of Man be to this generation.
At the judgment
the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation
and she will condemn them,
because she came from the ends of the earth
to hear the wisdom of Solomon,
and there is something greater than Solomon here.
At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation
and condemn it,
because at the preaching of Jonah they repented,
and there is something greater than Jonah here.”

The Sign Has Been Given!

For the Jews of that time, the expression “wicked generation” was no empty reproach. It immediately called to mind the ancient people of Israel — the people who had been freed from Egypt, who saw the sea parted before them, who were fed with manna and received the Law on Sinai: a people surrounded by signs and yet still doubtful, still demanding further proof.

Jesus recognises in his listeners that very same attitude: they ask for a sign, not out of a sincere desire for truth, but from insistence, mistrust and suspicion. And so He grants them no further sign. When the heart is closed, no sign is ever enough. Instead, He reminds them of two well-known examples: the Queen of the South, who travelled great distances moved by her longing to encounter the wisdom of God; and the people of Nineveh, who repented because they listened and trusted the preaching of Jonah.

Because of their hardened hearts, those Jews failed to recognise God standing before them. And we, today, run the same risk.

Spouses, the sign has been given: through our Sacrament, Jesus is present in our marriage; He is present in my spouse. Do I recognise Him?

When the heart trusts and is ready to receive, it learns to discover the provident hand of God in the small things of daily life: in a correction from my spouse, in a smile, in the children who draw us out of our comfort, in the word of a friend… Then we begin to see God in everything and in everyone.

 

Brought into Married Life

Catherine: How blessed we are to see so many conversions around us! Though I think we need to guard our hearts carefully, so that we do not start seeking ourselves.

Peter: What do you mean?

Catherine: Sometimes I have the feeling that I’m chasing extraordinary experiences — living for what is spectacular — reducing our faith to emotional moments. I think that can become a distraction, and even mislead us…

Peter: That’s true. Do you think there is anything more extraordinary than God Himself remaining hidden, out of love, in a small piece of bread?

Catherine: Exactly. So what are we waiting for to gather close around Jesus?

 

Mother,

From your heart we share the same longing: how we would love to see the tabernacles overflowing with people adoring the Lord!

My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love You. I beg pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope, and do not love You.

Blessed and praised be He for ever.