While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them,
“This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites ,so will the Son of Man be to this generation. At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here. At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it ,because at the preaching of Jonah, they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.”
REFLECTION:
At the preaching of Jonah, the king of Nineveh covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes (cf Jon 3:1-10 ). Would you be able to do that?
It would take me weeks to source a sackcloth and ashes. With so much effort, what do I get in return? An exhausted body in an ashened mess.
As a wretched sinner, I find it easier to go to Holy Mass as repentance. With so little effort, what do I get in return? The Body of Christ - a treasure worth infinitely more than all my wealth accumulated in the past, present, and future.
Saint Leonard of Port Maurice said that by devoutly attending Holy Mass, we fulfill four obligations: paying homage to our God, reparation of venial sins, and thanksgiving, and we can petition to God through Jesus - whom we've just received in Holy Communion. (1)
Lord, grant us the grace to attend Holy Mass with great devotion.
(1)1: Leonardo (1971) The hidden treasure: Holy mass. Rockford, Ill, Tan Books and Publishers.
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