Monday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Have you noticed how the rides in amusement parks have become more and more severe in recent decades? Speaking as an old-timer, I wonder if the yen for greater and perhaps more dangerous thrills is a commentary on the modern world’s ongoing thirst for the spectacular. Enough is never enough! Is this not the challenge Jesus faced when teaching about the Kingdom of God and sometimes showing the people his miraculous power? Every recorded miracle was meant to be a teaching moment, drawing the people to a deeper commitment in faith. Jesus reacted with human frustration when he pointed out that many were only thrill-seekers, always looking for the next chance to be entertained.
Our readings today challenge us to define what we mean by miraculous power. We would never accuse ourselves of being ‘Jesus thrill-seekers,’ but we could perhaps accuse ourselves of failing to recognize and appreciate the miraculous meaning of events happening around us. Jesus told the crowd pressing in on him that they totally missed the real meaning of the sign of Jonah. They missed the prophetic, repentant plea coming from the reluctant prophet, which, although not spectacular in its external form, did in fact cause a whole city to repent and return to faithfulness. The true spectacle was the amazing God moment stirring honesty and humility deep within the human heart. That has always been a life-changing ride on the way home. That indeed is worth searching for.
Reflection by Fr. Daniel Petsche, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections