Gospel: July 20, 2026

July 20, 2026 (Monday)

16th Week in Ordinary Time

Psalter: Week 4 (Green/Red)

St. Apollinaris, bishop and martyr

Ps 50:5-6, 8-9, 16bc-17, 21 & 23

To the upright, I will show the saving power of God.

1st Reading: Micah 6:1-4, 6-8

Gospel: Matthew 12:38-42

Then, some teachers of the law and some Pharisees spoke up, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” Jesus answered them, “An evil and unfaithful people want a sign; but no sign will be given them, except the sign of the prophet Jonah. In the same way, as Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of Man spend three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

At the judgment, the people of Nineveh will rise with this generation, and condemn it; because they reformed their lives at the preaching of Jonah, and here, there is greater than Jonah. At the judgment, the Queen of the South will stand up and condemn you. She came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and here, there is greater than Solomon.

Reflection:

The sign of Jonah.

Liturgies are beautiful expressions of our Catholic faith. The Church teaches us that devotion leads us to the beauty and truth of God. This is also true for the sacraments; these signs point us to the ultimate mystery of God’s presence within us and the Church.

These signs of faith help us deepen our relationship with God and strengthen our commitment to participate in building God’s kingdom.

Jesus is the ultimate sign of the Father for us. When asked by the Pharisees for a “sign,” He confronts their desire for extraordinary displays of power as a basis for faith. Instead, He urges them to recognize God’s work already present in the world genuinely. Jesus emphasizes that they will only receive the “sign of Jonah,” which signifies His death and resurrection. This powerful symbol represents His sacrifice and ultimate victory over death, calling for a deeper level of faith that goes beyond mere spectacle.

Jesus’ life is our sign and model for living under God and His kingdom. May we continue to be inspired by Him.