Something Greater Ahead – Reflection on Matthew 12:38-42
This Scripture passage reminds me of a U2 song titled “Wave of Sorrow.” Its haunting lyrics envision a modern-day reflection of the Beatitudes. Among the lyrics is a reference to the Bible passages of the Queen of Sheba from the once prosperous Ethiopia while she visits Solomon for his wisdom. The Wave of Sorrow is a meditation of Bono and his wife Ali being present to the suffering people during the early stages of the Ethiopian famine. There have now been 25 years of famine initially caused by insects and incorrectly sustained by politics. For me, the song awakens a sense of mercy, hope, and a future of something greater ahead. These lyrics sing out to Jesus as an inspiring sign and the reality of the here and now of who we can be and what we can do for others. If the queen of Sheba can rise up from accumulating riches to speak to Solomon, I am encouraged by those like Bono reaching out with God-given gifts of talent to help those in need.
The Pharisees Question Jesus by James Tissot (full resolution painting)
More details are available on the Brooklyn Museum website.
Additional Ordinary Time Reflections
Matthew 12:38-42 – Scripture*
The Sign of Jonah
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was 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. 41 The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here! 42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here!
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this Gospel and reading this Lectio Divina on Matthew 12:38-42 Reflection – Something Greater Ahead.
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Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities get to know your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite the world’s distractions.
Attributions
This site has written permission to use the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Bible for the Matthew 12 Bible passage.
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