Gospel: October 14, 2024

October 14, 2024 (Monday)

28th Week in Ordinary Time

Psalter: Week 4 / (Green/Red)

St. Callistus I, pope & martyr

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 113: 1b-2, 3-4, 5a, 6-7

Blessed be the name of the Lord forever.

1st Reading: Galatians 4: 22-24, 26-27, 31 – 5: 1

Gospel: Luke 11: 19-32

As the crowd increased, Jesus spoke the following words: “People of the present time are troubled people. They ask for a sign, but no sign will be given to them except the sign of Jonah.

As Jonah became a sign for the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be a sign for this generation. The Queen of the South will rise up on Judgment Day with the people of these times and accuse them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and here, there is greater than Solomon.

The people of Nineveh will rise up on Judgment Day with the people of these times and accuse them, for Jonah’s preaching made them turn from their sins, and here, there is greater than Jonah.

Reflection:

“Forgiving our enemies”

One of the 12 minor prophets in the Old Testament is Prophet Jonah. Jonah was sent by the Lord to Nineveh to preach about conversion. However, Jonah tried to flee to Tarshish. In the end, the Ninevites were all converted but Jonah was not happy. Why was Jonah not happy with the Ninevites being converted and forgiven? It is because the Ninevites were the enemies of the people of Jonah. Jonah could not forgive the people who caused them unbearable pains and sufferings.

In today’s Gospel Jesus told those who seek for a sign that there would be no sign except that of Jonah. Through Jonah’s preaching, the Ninevites were converted. However, Jonah himself needed to be converted. He must forgive his enemies. Jesus taught his followers to love their enemies (cf. Lk. 6:27) and he practiced what he taught: “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” (Lk. 23:34) Indeed, Jesus is greater than Jonah.