Readings: Micah 6:14.6-8, Ps.50; Matt 12:38-42
Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.
WHAT DOES THE LORD WANT FROM US IN THIS WORLD?
Listening to the conversation between Jesus and the scribes and Pharisees in our Gospel passage today as they asked Jesus for signs. He said to them, ‘It is an evil and unfaithful generation that asks for a sign! The only sign it will be given is the sign of the prophet Jonah, telling us that, on Judgment day, the men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation and condemn it, because when Jonah preached they repented; and there is something greater than Jonah here with us, that is, Jesus himself.
Hence, Jesus in this Gospel, presents to us the final recommendations of the end time, he insists that we should pay rapt attention to the signs nature is giving us concerning the end-time events, that these signs will make us have hope founded firmly on the word of God which drives away fear and despair, knowing that the kingdom of God is very near to us.
He also warns us about following those who claim to know when the end is coming. For we may see many of the signs written in Scripture happening already in our time, and people are terrified, looking for someone to show them the way. We should know that Jesus is the only Way, the Truth and the Life.
Reflecting on this, the question that comes to my mind is: where will you and I and the beautiful things of this world be in the next ten, twenty, forty, eighty and hundred years for those who are strong? The deep silence in my soul could not offer me any answer to this question rather, it exposed me to the foolishness of human greediness and selfishness.
Hence, I asked myself what God really requires from us in this world? I found the answer to this question in our first reading, where God, through the prophet Micah, says, 'My people, what have I done to you?' How have I been a burden to you? Answer me. For what is good has been explained to you, oh man; and this is what the Lord requires of you: only this, to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with your God.
Dear friends, what signs are we seeing around us today? How can we interpret the signs of these times, the signs that tell us that this world is passing away? Do these signs make us dread the second coming of the Lord, or do we joyfully embrace it in anticipation? Today, Jesus warns us not to waste our time seeking signs; instead, we should be prepared and remain firm in our faith.
He reminds us that he is not just the sign of Jonah, but something far greater than Jonah, and without him in our lives, we will be lost, because the future lies in his hands and nothing can destroy or hurt us as long as we remain faithful to his commands. Nonetheless, what he requires of us in this world is not to seek signs, but to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with our God.
LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, as we embrace your word today, give us the grace to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with you and as we carry out our task this week, may your favour be with us now and always. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed week
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