Daily Gospel Reflection
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July 19, 2021
Some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus,
“Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.”
He said to them in reply,
“An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign,
but no sign will be given it
except the sign of Jonah the prophet.
Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights,
so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth
three days and three nights.
At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation
and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah;
and there is something greater than Jonah here.
At the judgment the queen of the south will arise with this generation
and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth
to hear the wisdom of Solomon;
and there is something greater than Solomon here.”
Jesus’ vehement response to the Pharisees’ demand for a sign certainly catches me off guard: immediately I cringe, thinking how often I have asked for a sign. At the same time, I justify myself by recalling how many characters in the Old Testament not only ask for a sign but receive one. If they can ask for signs, why can’t I?
But what are we really after when we ask to see a sign? Are we acting in good faith, or are we, like the Pharisees, testing God in moments of doubt? Do we trust the Lord, or do we prefer immediate gratification? Although I crave clarity in times of uncertainty, I know that if I could get my easy answers, my interaction with God would become transactional. Instead, God desires to be in real relationship with us as our Father in heaven, not our Father the fortune-teller.
In fact, we are given signs, if we can learn to see them. It is said that to grow in faith we don’t always need to do more; sometimes, we just need to notice more. Can we set aside our expectations for how God ought behave and simply recognize who God really is? Can we see God in the rainbow in the sky after a storm, a kind message from a dear friend, or the words of Scripture? Signs abound even in this passage, as Jesus draws upon Old Testament imagery to reveal the truth about himself.
And the truth is, God has already given us the ultimate sign: the death and resurrection of the Son of Man, Jesus Christ. Indeed, there is something greater here. Now, it is up to us to see and follow the sign.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, your life, preaching, death, and resurrection are signs of your love and care for us. When our faith is tested and we seek some other sign, give us the strength to continue to trust in you. Lead us, by your preaching and wisdom, to ever deeper faith, so that we can follow you to the new life that you promise in the Kingdom of Heaven. We ask this in your most holy name. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Macrina the younger was the daughter of a great Christian family whose writings continue to shape the Church's understanding of God. Macrina was the granddaughter of Macrina the Elder and her younger brothers were two of the Cappadocian Fathers—Basil and Gregory of Nyssa.
Macrina was born probably around the year 330 in Cappadocia, a region now in the east of modern-day Turkey. Her father arranged a marriage for her, as was the custom. But Macrina refused to marry him. She devoted herself to Christ, the eternal bridegroom.
Most of our information about Macrina's life comes from Gregory of Nyssa's Life of Macrina, in which her younger brother writes the biography of the sister he so admired. Macrina devoted herself to studying the Sacred Scriptures, prayer, and educating their younger brother Peter. She turned a family estate into a monastery, where she devoted herself to a life of ascetic disciplines and prayer.
Macrina died in 379, and has been revered as a saint ever since.
St. Macrina the Younger, Cappadocian mother of the Church—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Macrina the Younger is available for use under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. Last accessed March 20, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
