Wednesday of the
First Week of Lent
(Jonah 31-10; Luke 11:29-32)
Liberal newspapers focus on inequality as the greatest domestic
threat. They constantly report a growing
income gap between rich and poor. Now
they say that life expectancy between the two groups is also widening
significantly. They tend to overlook,
however, other evidence of moral decline.
They are not especially concerned about drug use and pornography. If they examine all the evidence, they could
hardly but conclude with Jesus in today’s gospel. They would have to admit, “…this generation
is evil...”
Jesus is pictured as reacting to the people’s rejection
of him. Although he heals the sick and
preaches with compelling stories, he cannot form a mass movement of
disciples. When he dies, his apostles
will convert myriads of pagans into believers.
At the end of time descendants of these converts will show the Jewish people
that they were wrong to ignore Jesus.
We like to think of ourselves as faithful followers of
Jesus, but we may be imposters. To be
true disciples we have to pay him more than lip service and even than
attendance at weekly Eucharist. We truly
follow Jesus when we seek out the troubled and assist them carry their burdens.
