Memory of the Poor
Memorial of Pope Saint Callixtus (+222). He was a friend to the poor and founded the house of prayer on which later would be built the basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere.
Reading of the Word of God
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
This is the Gospel of the poor,
liberation for the imprisoned,
sight for the blind,
freedom for the oppressed.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Luke 11,29-32
The crowds got even bigger and he addressed them, 'This is an evil generation; it is asking for a sign. The only sign it will be given is the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of man be a sign to this generation. On Judgement Day the Queen of the South will stand up against the people of this generation and be their condemnation, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, look, there is something greater than Solomon here. On Judgement Day the men of Nineveh will appear against this generation and be its condemnation, because when Jonah preached they repented; and, look, there is something greater than Jonah here.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
The Son of Man came to serve,
whoever wants to be great
should become servant of all.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
It is an old temptation to ask God for signs, perhaps to move what sometimes appears to us to be His silence, His indifference, or, at any rate, to have a confirmation of His presence. Asking for a miracle or a sign from God is not contrary to evangelical logic. Jesus himself teaches us to ask for "good things" in prayer. But faith, Jesus says in today's Gospel passage, does not depend on the prodigious gestures that we would like. Jesus speaks of the "sign" par excellence that the Lord has given for all, which is "sign of Jonah." The early community read these words in light of the Resurrection: "For just as Jonah was for three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so for three days and three nights the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth." (Mt 12:40). The "sign" of Jonah is therefore the proclamation of the central message of the Gospel, that is, the mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Just as the inhabitants of Nineveh converted after hearing the preaching of Jonah, even though he did not perform any miracles, so too must people convert today, with the difference being that someone "greater than Jonah" has come. We must communicate the resurrection of Jesus to the world, which is that good has triumphed over evil, life over death. This Gospel is much more valuable than the wisdom of Solomon and much stronger than the preaching of Jonah. Yes, "something greater than Jonah is here", the Gospel repeats to us today.