MONDAY HOMILY - 28TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME- YEAR A

MONDAY HOMILY – 28TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME- YEAR A

BY; DEACON BILL FRERE

THEME: Give Me A Sign

Gospel – Luke 11:29-32

On The Road, Upper Galilee
One cold evening during the holiday season, a little boy about 6 or 7 years old, was standing out in front of a store window. He had no shoes and his clothes were mere rags. A young woman passing by saw the little boy could see the longing in his pale blue eyes. So she took the child by the hand and led him into the store. There she bought him some new shoes and a complete set of warm clothes.
They came back outside into the street and the woman said to the child “Now you can go home and have a very happy holiday.” The little boy looked up at her and asked “Are you God?” She smiled down at him and replied “No son, I’m just one of His children.” The little boy then said “Well I knew you had to be related.”

We hear about signs in today’s Gospel but the context is quite different. The people are asking Jesus for a sign. Prove yourself to us; give us a sign so that we know you are a prophet sent from God. They believe they already have all the answers, that they know the truth. They believe they are standing on a religious high ground looking down and judging Jesus’ worth as a prophet. But Jesus sees them as they really are – a faithless generation, they are a bit like Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar! Prove to me that you’re divine; change my water into wine.

Jesus makes it clear. The people of Nineveh, your worst enemies, saw the signs and they repented of their sins and idolatry. And yet the signs are all around you and you choose to ignore them! Jesus reminds us that our faith isn’t based on miracles or wonders! Our faith is based on the presence of Jesus in our lives. That is what the Jews were lacking. The real sign is Jesus standing right in front of their eyes but they refused to see! And that is the challenge for us – to see the presence of Jesus in all we do! He is there in the compassion of that young woman! He is there in the discerning eyes and heart of that little boy! He is there in His gentle touch and calming voice in all our choices, guiding us along the way. He is there in every act of charity and faith if we only choose to see and understand!
Be a sign!

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