Jesus went about through cities
and villages, preaching and bringing the good news of God’s kingdom. With him
were the twelve, and women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities:
Mary Magdalene, from whom seven evil spirits had gone out; Joanna, the wife of Herod’s
steward; Susanna; and many others who served him from their possessions.
Certain of the scribes and
Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”
But he answered them, “An evil
and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign will be given it
except the sign of Jonah the prophet. For as Jonah was three days and nights in
the belly of the whale, so will the Son of Man be three days and nights in the
heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this
generation, and will condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of
Jonah, and someone greater than Jonah is here. The queen of the south will rise
up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it, for she came from
the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and someone greater than
Solomon is here.
When an unclean spirit has gone
out of a man, he passes through waterless places, seeking rest, and doesn’t
find it. Then he says, ‘I will return into my house from which I came out,’ and
when he has come back, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he
goes, and takes with himself seven other spirits more evil than he is, and they
enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse than the
first. Even so will it be also to this evil generation.”
Reflection
When Jesus was tempted by the
devil in the wilderness to jump from the pinnacle of the temple to see if God
would save him, he said he would not ask for such a sign from God. Those who
came to Jesus asking for a sign had succumbed to the temptation. Have you seen
miraculous signs of God’s presence in the world? Do you think it would be
easier for you to follow God if you witnessed an undeniable miracle?
Prayer: Help me recognize the
signs of your presence all around me, Lord, rather than asking for more.
No comments:
Post a Comment