GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 18TH JULY 2016
MONDAY OF THE 16TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
1ST READING: Micah 6:1-4, 6-8
PSALM: Psalm 50:5-6, 8-9, 16-17, 21 and 23
GOSPEL: Matthew 12:38-42
THEME: ANOTHER SIGN?
There are some people in this world who would never accept you no matter how good you are. Someone rightly said, “Haters will see you walking on water and say it’s because you can’t swim.”
Just some few verses before our Gospel text for today, there is an account of Jesus curing a demoniac who was blind and mute (cf. Mt. 12:22-32). This divine sign astounded the crowd and it was given in the presence of the Pharisees. In spite of that sign and many other miracles that Jesus had done, the Pharisees and scribes, in today’s Gospel text, turn to Jesus and say, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you” (Mt. 12:38). Understandably, Jesus replies, “An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah” (Mt 12:39).
The Lord gives each one of us enough signs to lead us into the Kingdom of God. Those who choose to enter the Kingdom need no more signs but for those who have made up their minds not to accept the message of the Kingdom, myriads of signs would not be enough to convince them.
Jesus is not a magician and his followers are not sent to perform magic. The deeds of Jesus have a salvific character and are not meant to satisfy curious eyes. What he asks of us is to believe in him and the message he proclaims. The world says “seeing is believing” but Jesus says “believing is seeing”.
Look deep into your life and you would observe that the Lord has already given you enough signs to help you on your way. You do not need another sign from the Lord before you decide whether to give your life to him or not. Do not be like the scribes and Pharisees in our Gospel text. Go ahead and make the decision for Christ today. Do not wait. Make the decision now.
Eternal Father, in many ways you have proved to me that you love me. I do not ask for more proofs of your love. Rather, I ask for faith to surrender to this love of yours expressed through the person and work of Jesus Christ. Amen
Fr. Andrews Obeng, SVD
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)