The Catholic Calendar for Monday, October 16, 2006
Monday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Galatians 4:22-24, 26-27, 31–5:1
Psalm 113:1b-2, 3-4, 5a and 6-7
Luke 11:29-32

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm
and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1)

Greater than Jonah! Greater than Solomon! The Son of Man is greater than anything or anyone! Yet, many of us take this for granted. We will make time for all sorts of things that are not important, and we're content to live our lives as mediocre Christians--keeping most of the commandments--a shallow prayer life.

Jonah's message was one of turning away from sin and of conversion. In today's readings, we're called to end our slavery to whatever is incompatible with God's greatness and wholeheartedly devote our lives to the freedom of the Gospel message. How fortunate we are to have been given this wisdom--a wisdom that the restless and discontented world does not have. A wisdom having the words of eternal life--a pathway to wholeness and true holiness.

Jesus offers us more than enough signs for us to believe. Faith is not the result of having seen miracles, but rather the result of the conversion of hearts. Those who look for miracles or signs as conditions of their faith will be disappointed. For those who believe, who willfully accept Jesus Christ with a humble heart, the miracles are already apparent. Rather than seek miracles so that we may believe, we should ask for the faith to see with humble eyes the miracles that are already all around us.

- Anne