Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Grace and Peace to You from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! Today’s readings place two paths right before us. One is our true calling in God, our real identity. The other is the path that we often take; the temptation of asking for signs and insisting on our own plans.
Paul’s Identity and Call
In the first reading, we hear Paul introduce himself to the Romans. He says: “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the Gospel of God.” His entire identity is a fruit of his encounter with Christ. He calls himself a “servant.” This word, in the Greek, implies one who belongs entirely to their master. Like Mary, who said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord,” Paul understands that his life is no longer his own.
He is “called to be an apostle”. The Greek word for “called” is kletos, meaning a divine summons, an appointment by God’s own decree. His identity is a gift from God. He is “set apart”, meaning he has been designated for a specific and holy purpose. He was set apart to proclaim the Gospel to the Gentiles.
The Gospel Fulfilled
The Gospel for which he was called is the fulfillment of God’s ancient promises. It is the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. In Him, every prophecy finds its “Yes” and “Amen.” And for what purpose? one could ask. Paul tells us that it is to bring about the obedience of faith among all nations. The obedience of faith is a lifelong journey of trusting day by day and surrendering our entire being to the One who alone is worthy of our complete trust. In baptism, we were summoned by name and set apart to belong to Jesus Christ.
Seeking Signs Instead of Faith
Paul’s encounter with Jesus transformed him completely. But today’s Gospel reminds us that not all who met Jesus physically were transformed. Despite all His miracles, some still asked for a sign. Maybe they wanted a spectacle, proof on their own terms. In doing so, they were testing God, repeating the same pattern of Satan in the temptation of Jesus in the desert.
This must have been a painful moment for Jesus. His words call for a sober reflection: “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given to it, except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus tells them they are missing the point entirely. The ultimate sign has already been given.
The signs: Jonah, Solomon and Christ
Let’s pause and think about this. The people of Nineveh heard a mere human prophet preach to them, and they repented. Now, God Himself is speaking to them in the person of Christ, and they remain indifferent. The queen of the Sheba (Ethiopia) traveled a vast distance to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now, the very author of wisdom stands before them, and they are still looking for something else.
The Challenge for Us
My dear Sisters and Brothers, this is a profound challenge for us today. We, who have been called and set apart in baptism, can sometimes act just like those sign-seekers. We can fall into the trap of looking for God only in the dramatic, the miraculous, or the emotionally thrilling. But in doing so, we risk missing the sufficient sign of Jesus Christ himself, present in His Word, in the Eucharist, and in His body, the Church.
The world temps us with countless other “signs”: success, wealth, and power that compete for our loyalty. Today’s Word asks us a serious question: To what, or to whom we will give our “obedience of faith”? Whose servant have we become?
So, let us not harden our hearts or seek for signs contrary to the ones Jesus has given us. Instead, may we embrace our holy calling with a fresh resolve. Let our lives become a continuous turning towards the One who alone helps us find our true purpose, our identity and our peace. Amen.
