16th Week of Year MT 16:1-4
SAM = St. Augustine Monastery, Nova Scotia, Canada
OUR LORD tells the people in today’s Gospel MT 16: 1-4...”no sign shall be given them!”
“Certain of the Scribes & Pharisees answered Him saying, Master we would like to see
a sign from you. But He answered them & said to them...”an Evil & Adulterous generation
Demands a sign...& NO SIGN shall be given them, but the Sign of JONAS THE PROPHET.”
NOTE: Christ points out that the Scribes & Pharisees DEMAND a sign even though they lacked Faith. Perhaps their Faith once prompted them to practice Virtue...but they must’ve slowed down & stopped...& they let Doubt & Skepticism creep in.
FROM SKEPTICISM there comes Doubt...then Denial...& finally Affirmation of the Denial.
It doesn’t stop here either! In order to Justify such a Position & Activity, people of our modern age, like the Scribes Pharisees, soon begin to PREACH & AFFIRM their sinful activity as something Good & Virtuous. WE SEE this same situation today.....with Abortion, Euthanasia, Gay Rights, Homosexual activity posing as something Good & Virtuous, TRIAL Marriage, GAY Marriage, No Marriage at all...etc.
These groups begin to Demand not only TOLERANCE...but they even want Society to support
them with their TAX DOLLARS. Supporters of these views regard all their activities.
....as an ALTERNATE Life Style.....something Good & True. How PERVERSE the Human Mind
can sink. Satan has cleverly captured their Hearts...& is able to keep them in perverse activity.
JONAH WAS ABLE to move God to Pity & Mercy...with his Humble Prayer of Sorrow & Penance.
Every time Man Believes, Seeks & Accepts...the Wisdom, Mercy & Power of God....& Reforms
his/her Life in Sorrow, Penance, Faith & Love of God.....then God always Relents ...& Lavishes
His Love & Grace upon the Soul. WHY? Because then the Soul...is Really trying to Live a Life of
VIRTUE....which pleases God very much.
THEY ARE NOT LIVING A LIFE OF VICE & SIN.....
......WITH THE AUDACITY OF..... CALLING IT GOOD & VIRTUOUS!