What is your motivation for serving God: are you motivated by love, or by miracles- signs and wonders? On this 7th day of our Lenten journey the Lord wants to evaluate our motivation for following once again. Don’t grow weary if this evaluation repeats at intervals. This is done to remind you that the way of glory comes with many challenges, and so you need to purify your intentions otherwise you fall for cheap comforts. There are many today who worship the Creator because of creatures. Where do you belong? If you wish to know read slowly…
Luke 11:29-32
As the crowds got even bigger, and Jesus addressed them: ‘This is a wicked 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 Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. On Judgement day the Queen of the South will rise up with the men of this generation and 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. On Judgement day the men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation and condemn it, because when Jonah preached they repented; and there is something greater than Jonah here.’
POINTS FOR REFLECTION
1. Child of God as the crowd increased, as his hearers or followers increased, Jesus addresses them in a way that calls them to evaluate their reasons for following, as he addresses you now. He spoke this way because some asked for a sign from heaven to prove he works by the Power of God (Lk 11, 16). But ‘signs and wonders’ can NEVER be a TRUE test of the presence of God’s power. They are effects that could have many causes: either from God or the Devil. Just as we have in the case of the staff of Aaron turning to a snake by the power of God and that of Pharaoh’s magicians, through black magic (Exo 7, 10-11). Hence a miracles is NOT a SOURCE of FAITH, as we see in this case where it generated doubt. Rather Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of GOD (Rom 10, 17).
2. There is Something greater than miracles here! There is something greater than that favour, blessing, or breakthrough that you seek. The creator of all things, the One from whose treasury cometh forth all good, is the One you should love and obey, not the creatures. The moment your judgement of ministers of God is based on the number of ‘signs and wonders’ wrought by them and not the sound teachings leading to faith, you have joined the evil generation- you have become like the devil- who tests Jesus to turn stone to bread, asking Jesus to abuse his spiritual powers into doing frivolous things.
TASK: Ask yourself now: Why am I following Jesus? Remind yourself always that greater faith has he who does not follow because of what they see. For this reason Jesus says to Thomas: ‘blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed’ (Jn 20, 29). And in 2Cor 5, 7 the Bible says: for we live by faith and not by sight. God bless you and give you the strength to follow. Amen.
