REFLECTION12

Today we have the Gospel according to St Matthew chapter 12 verses38 to 42 to reflect on. I would like to convey four messages from this particular passage

1. Be prudent

In this particular passage we see Scribes and Pharisees asking Jesus for a sign. Even in spite of seeing many miracles that Jesus performed they wanted a sign which is different from his miracles. Even if they asked so politely “Teacher we wish to see a miracle from you” Jesus replied so roughly saying “An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no signs will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah”. Jesus answered so roughly because He understood the very insincere intention of their asking. They asked for the sign in order to test Jesus. Because they were trying to trap Jesus in one or the other way, and this was a part of their conspiracy. But Jesus being so prudent sternly replied to this question which really stopped them from asking further. This part gives us the message that we should be prudent enough to discern what is good and what is evil. Evil may come even in the form of politeness but we should have the sense to realize it. Once when we realize that some is evil, we should use our prudence to avoid such situations. If something is wrong sternly respond to it, as Jesus did.

2. Do not be spiritually adulterous

Jesus addresses Pharisees and Scribes as “An evil and adulterous generation”. Here Jesus means a spiritual adultery. Jesus used this word to describe their infidelity towards God. As we know they led a life which was astray from God and they never practiced what is said in the scripture. That is why they were addressed as adulterous. Let us compare this with our life. As we all of us are Christians, we are called to be with Jesus but many a time, we forget this fact and go away from Him. It becomes a spiritual adultery. So let us have fidelity and commitment to God so that we may not become adulterous in the sight of God.

3. Accept the presence of Jesus within us

The Pharisees and Scribes could not accept Jesus as son of God because whatever Jesus proclaimed was just opposite to their life style. So if they accepted Jesus as son of God, they had to renounce their hypocritical life style. But they were not ready for it rather they preferred to be arm chair theorists always. When we look in to our own life many a time we too do not realize the presence of Jesus Christ amidst us and we do not accept him. Unless and until we are troubled we do not search for God. As we know most of us search God only when we face some crisis such as financial crisis accidents etc. until then we run behind worldly pleasures. It was the same thing with Pharisees and scribes 2000 years ago. They enjoyed worldly pleasures money, position, reputation etc; as a result they were all perished. So let us accept the presence of Jesus within us. Hence He will lead us and we may not be perished.


4. Heed and practice the word of God

We read in this passage ”The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with the generation and condemn it because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah and see something greater than Jonah is here”. As we know the people of Nineveh were leading a worldly life. They forgot God and indulged in every kind of immoralities. But God did not want to abandon them so He sent Jonah to convert them. The Ninevites recognized God’s warning when Jonah spoke to them and they converted because of the witness of the preaching of Jonah. But when we look into the time of Pharisees and Scribes, even if the son of man who was greater than Jonah came and preached to them directly, they were not ready to change themselves rather they continued to be so stubborn. When we look in to our own life many a time we also follow the paths of Pharisees and Scribes. Jesus speaks to us through the Gospel but we do not heed his words. Whenever we go behind worldly pleasures Jesus calls us back to Him but we never listen to Him because we never think that our life in this world is short.

These four are the messages that Jesus gives us through this particular passage (1) Be prudent (2) Don’t be spiritually adulterous (3) Accept the presence of Jesus within us (4) Heed and practice the word of God.


Now let us ruminate over these messages. We will find two ways to opt. the first way is the way that which Ninevites selected which led them to salvation. The second way is that which Pharisees and Scribes selected which led them to perish. Let us select the way of Ninevites and be saved. May God bless each of us.
                                                                            Bro. Sibi Kurian