Ignatian Reflection

July 20, 2014 Sunday -   Reflection on the gospel: Matthew 12: 38-42

  By: MS. NIMFA MOLE

        Grade six teacher

When I went over the Gospel passage, Matthew 12: 38-42, the first thing that came to my mind is the virtue of faith, which is one of the three Theological Virtues. The virtue of faith is said to complement and perfect our intellect.  St. Paul, in his letter to the Hebrews, also, expressed that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence  of things not seen. We can possess it not through our own effort, but rather, it is a gift  bestowed  to us by God. For someone who truly loves God, one need not ask for a sign in order to believe in and follow Him. One simply places one’s complete trust and faith in Him.

A beautiful imagery that I have come across to about faith is a mountain covered with a thick fog/cloud. Let’s take for example, the majestic Mt. Apo that I see on my way home going south.  During cloudless days, I always behold it’s resplendent beauty . But there are times when it's beauty is hidden by the thick clouds that cover it. But, whether I see it or not, I know that the majestic Mt. Apo is there standing proudly behind the clouds. In our lives, too, there are instances when we feel most God’s presence especially when we are happy and receive blessings in abundance from our gracious God. But there are ,also, instances when it’s difficult to feel His presence and this happens when we experience problems and difficulties in life. But whether we feel His Presence or not , God  is always there in our midst, journeying with us in our ups and downs, high and low moments – and He asks from us only one thing  and that is,  that we completely trust and believe in Him.

            There are ,also, instances in our lives, when like the scribes and the Pharisees  we ask for a sign from God.  Although, we have known Him and experience His presence in our lives in a very personal way, like providing us with our needs, protecting us from harm, guiding us constantly,  and showering us with His abundant blessings  yet, still, there are instances when we find it difficult to recognize Him. The scribes and Pharisees are said to be learned when it comes to  the Jewish laws and traditions. With the knowledge that they have of who God is, one could  expect  from them that they would be the  first ones  to recognize the Presence of God in their midst. Unfortunately, their hearts and minds are clouded by their evil thoughts/acts and unfaithfulness. They are not able to recognize the Divine in their midst- the fulfilment of God’s promise made  from of old and they  ask for a sign from Jesus. These were the signs given them by Jesus – first, Jonah and then Solomon.

            Jonah is considered as a prototype of Jesus. Just as he stayed in the belly of the whale for three days and three nights, so too, Jesus descended to the netherworld when He died and was risen from the dead on the third day. Using Jonah as a sign, Jesus wants us to realize that as the  people of Nineveh listened to the preaching of Jonah and were converted, how much more should we listen to Him who is far greater than Jonah and allow Him to speak to us and change us and be converted. Also, just as the queen of the south journeyed from afar to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, how much more should we give importance to the Presence of Someone who is far greater than Solomon for He is the Source of Wisdom – the Word Incarnate, Jesus Christ, Himself – the Son of the Living God.

            Most often, we take His Presence for granted. We become blind to His Presence in our midst, that is why it is very important that we take time to really reflect and meditate on the events in our lives. Let us always ask from God the gift of faith  so that just like Saint Ignatius of Loyola we will be able  to see/find God’s  presence in our midst – with the people we meet, in our daily experiences, in nature,  in His Word,  in the sacraments and best of all in the Eucharist which is the summit of our Christian communal faith. But this should not be enough. Just like the people of Nineveh, we should allow our faith in Jesus Christ to change us – every aspects of our life – and to transform us, so that we may become truly sons and daughters of the Living God.