Reading 1
Gal 4:22-24, 26-27, 31–5:1
Brothers and sisters:
It is written that Abraham had two sons,
one by the slave woman and the other by the freeborn woman.
The son of the slave woman was born naturally,
the son of the freeborn through a promise.
Now this is an allegory.
These women represent two covenants.
One was from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery;
this is Hagar.
But the Jerusalem above is freeborn, and she is our mother.
For it is written:
Rejoice, you barren one who bore no children;
break forth and shout, you who were not in labor;
for more numerous are the children of the deserted one
than of her who has a husband.
Therefore, brothers and sisters,
we are children not of the slave woman
but of the freeborn woman.
For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm
and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.
Ps 113:1b-2, 3-4, 5a and 6-7
Responsorial PsalmR. (see 2)
Blessed be the name of the Lord forever.
or:
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Praise, you servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD.
Blessed be the name of the LORD
both now and forever.
R. Blessed be the name of the Lord forever.
or:
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
From the rising to the setting of the sun
is the name of the LORD to be praised.
High above all nations is the LORD;
above the heavens is his glory.
R. Blessed be the name of the Lord forever.
or:
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Who is like the LORD, our God,
who looks upon the heavens and the earth below?
He raises up the lowly from the dust;
from the dunghill he lifts up the poor.
R. Blessed be the name of the Lord forever.
or:
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Lk 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.”
Meditation: Luke 11:29-32
“This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign.” (Luke 11:29)
What did Jesus mean here? Surely it’s okay to seek a sign sometimes, right? After all, Gideon asked God for a sign—twice! (Judges 6:36-40). God himself offered the shepherds a sign to prove that the Messiah had been born (Luke 2:12). So what was Jesus’ problem?
The difference in this case was the attitude with which the requests were coming. People were almost taunting Jesus, making demands that they were sure he couldn’t fulfill. What’s more, they were asking after Jesus had already produced countless “signs” of healing and deliverance for them to investigate. Jesus saw their suspicion and stubbornness, and so he essentially said: “Enough of this. No more signs until the sign of Jonah,” referring to his impending death and resurrection.
Let’s be clear. It’s okay to ask God to give you a sign that will help you discern your path or confirm a decision you’ve already made. Just be careful that you’re asking from a position of trust and faith. Give him the freedom to grant you the sign you’re looking for or to stay quiet and let you exercise your faith a little bit more.
Let’s say, for instance, that you are on your way to a job interview. Take a moment to thank God for his steadfast love for you. Thank him for his mercy and for all the times he has worked in your life up to this point. Profess your trust in his ability to provide for you and your family. Then, ask him to help you see your way more clearly. Tell him that you want to do his will, no matter what that may be, and that you will follow him, sign or no sign.
Always remember that God loves you and hears your every prayer. He would never withhold a sign from you out of spite or to punish you. So if you have asked, but he hasn’t answered yet, trust him, and wait patiently for his answer.
“Father, I turn every uncertainty in my life over to you. You know my needs, my questions, my hopes, and my fears. Please open my eyes today to your guidance so that I can live a life fully pleasing to you.”
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