The Lord Will Win Victory for You

July 23, 2007

Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

by Beth De Cristofaro

“Fear not! Stand your ground, and you will see the victory the LORD will win for you today.” (Gen 14:13)

An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. (Mt 12:39)

Piety

God of Mercy and love, help me stand my ground in the face of temptation, confusion and chaos, trusting always in your powerful and loving presence. Help me turn to you each moment. Let me meet you within that I might grow in awareness and courage that I might not seek signs but rather your presence.

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/072307.shtml

Jesus’ teachings often used metaphorical language of movement such as: turn from, knock, prepare your lamp. These commands refer to interior turning toward God rather than physical movement – turning our will, the spirit knocking and the heart preparing. Jesus’ riddle-like answer to the scribes and Pharisees also refers to a deliberate, interior move toward God. Outward signs are not the answer. Inward movement is the answer.

The Israelites had just been released from bondage after witnessing the frightening and awesome plagues which had struck their captors. But within days of achieving their freedom, they cried to Moses: Why did you do this to us? … Far better for us to be the slaves of the Egyptians than to die in the desert.” (Gen 14:11, 12) God’s signs, God’s mercy, did not convince them. Moses interceded for them again and again in the desert as their faith flagged.

Jesus’ answer refers to the actions of Jonah who converted the entire city of Ninevah. Jonah, himself, had to be convinced, but he finally followed God’s commands as did, finally, the Ninevites. The Queen of the South heard rumors of a powerful God and came to be instructed by Solomon. She made an interior turn to God. Jesus knows that the hearts of the temple officials questioning him will not turn; they have already rejected the Word.

God’s mercy is for those who make the turn: “Fear not! Stand your ground, and you will see the victory the LORD will win for you today.” (Gen 14:13) At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah (Mt 12:41).

And, of course, Jonah prefigures the most miraculous of Signs: Jesus’ death and resurrection. It will still not be enough for some. But for his followers and those truly seeking God, it is enough. What is enough for us? Many of us experienced a turn to God on our Cursillo weekend and the Spirit filled us with both peace and hunger for God. Do we renew our own interior turn to God each day – each moment – if necessary?

Action

Are we harboring the desire for signs to “prove” God’s presence? Can we be aware of and rejoice in the peace and hunger which the Spirit gives to us? Can we give way to the Spirit rather than our own fears, principals, ideas? Can we embrace turning toward? In what way can you be “sign” of God’s presence for somebody?