Monday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time

(Optional Memorial for Saint John XXIII, Pope)

Proper readings for the Memorial of St. John XXIII
 
Biographical information about St. John XXIII

“Solomon and the Queen of Sheba”
by  Pietro Dandini, 1700’s

 
Readings for Monday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time [1]
 
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [2]
 
Readings and Commentary: [3]
 
Reading 1: Romans 1:1-7
 
Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus,
called to be an Apostle and set apart for the Gospel of God,
which he promised previously through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,
the Gospel about his Son, descended from David according to the flesh,
but established as Son of God in power
according to the Spirit of holiness
through resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through him we have received the grace of apostleship,
to bring about the obedience of faith,
for the sake of his name, among all the Gentiles,
among whom are you also, who are called to belong to Jesus Christ;
to all the beloved of God in Rome, called to be holy.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Commentary on Rom 1:1-7
 
St. Paul introduces himself to the Christian churches in Rome with this opening message from his letter. We note that the apostle has seen clearly that all that was promised by the Law of Moses and the Hebrew prophets was fulfilled in Christ, thus establishing continuity with the Jewish faith. In typical fashion, the introduction includes a statement of purpose (apostolate of the Gospel of Christ) and a profession of faith. Specifically, he directs his remarks to the Gentiles, also called to faith. It is implicit in this greeting that the profession of faith is shared by the church in Rome.
 
CCC: Rom 1:1 876; Rom 1:3-4 648; Rom 1:3 437, 496; Rom 1:4 445, 695; Rom 1:5 143, 494, 2087
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 98:1bcde, 2-3ab, 3cd-4
 
R. (2a) The Lord has made known his salvation.
 
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
 
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
 
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
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Commentary on Ps 98:1bcde, 2-3ab, 3cd-4
 
Psalm 98 is a song of praise and thanksgiving. We see in this selection how God is praised for the strength he lends his people, and the salvation he brings to those who are faithful. The psalm rejoices in God’s salvation. The Lord has revealed his compassion toward the people, and they sing his praises in response. The Hebrews saw this as salvation for the people of Israel from its enemies. Christians see the deeper expression of God’s love, as he sent his Son for salvation and justice for the whole world.
 
This is an excellent example of how Christians, heirs to the Judeo-Christian truth, can see clearly in these ancient texts the references to the Christ: “The Lord has made his salvation known.” It is this event about which we “sing joyfully to the Lord.”
 
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Gospel: Luke 11:29-32
 
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.”
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Commentary on Lk 11:29-32
 
Jesus is asked again for a sign that would prove to his audience that he is what he claims to be. His response is vehement: the only sign that will be given to them will be the sign of Jonah, the message that they are under a condemnation from God unless they repent and return to faithfulness. This is followed by another reference to the Old Testament “the queen of the south,” a reference to the Queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10: 1ff),  who came seeking the wisdom of Solomon. Using this imagery, the Lord refers to himself as God’s Wisdom incarnate.
 
The final verse of this passage summarizes the message. Christ’s call to repentance carries more weight than Jonah’s call did for the Ninevites (Jonah 3:1-10) and his wisdom is greater than that of Solomon.
 
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Reflection:
 
We imagine ourselves in a crowd listening to Jesus teach.  We are aware that this holy man has made spectacular cures and many around us are there because of whispered rumors that he may be the messiah.  Some of his followers are claiming so.  He has sent his students out into the surrounding area and they had done amazing things.  Perhaps, we think, today he will do something that will convince us that he is who he claims to be.
 
Instead of touching and curing someone chronically ill or casting out a fierce demonic presence he looks at us and tells us (as if he knew what we were thinking) that we came seeking signs, and that if that was what we were looking for, then we would not get that proof except, he says, “the sign of Jonah.”  Jonah preached repentance to the unbelievers at Nineveh because the Lord was going to destroy them if they did not repent.  What has that to do with us?  We believe in the One True God – Yahweh.
 
Then he tells us that, in the final judgment that is to come, the “queen of the south” will rise with condemnation against us!  He’s talking about the Queen of Sheba who came to Solomon seeking the Wisdom of God.  Why would this Jesus say that she would condemn us?  We are here.  We are seeking.
 
He tells us that what happened with the people of Nineveh, who underwent a great conversion, was inconsequential compared to what Jesus is teaching, and that even the legendary “Wisdom of Solomon” is insignificant to what we are seeing.  We get it!  He is the one who is to come, promised by the Law and predicted by the prophets.  That is the only possible meaning.  He tells us that the only concrete proof we will receive will be at the very end of time when we stand before the judgment seat of the Most High, and there, seated in judgment will be this same Jesus who speaks to us now.
 
How often do we challenge the Lord, asking for signs and wonders – proof that Jesus is the Lord of life? These challenging prayers come usually when things are going horribly wrong, when we have been either put in situations where the likely outcome is going to be bad, or have made decisions that will lead to unintended consequences.  In either case, in desperation, we demand an outcome that defies probability (and in some cases defies physics). 
 
Today Scripture tells us that first we must have faith in the Lord, faith that goes beyond the need for signs and wonders.  We must never lose sight of the great gift we are given or the great sacrifice made on our behalf.  Those who reject the Lord will need to face him at the end and then they will realize their mistake.
 
Pax

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[1] The picture is “Solomon and the Queen of Sheba” by  Pietro Dandini, 1700’s.
[2] S.S. Commemoratio
[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.