Paul seems to answer the questions not even asked in his introduction to his letter to the Romans.
Now Rome, a great city, was also a Gentile city — that is, not Jewish.
And although, undoubtedly, there were Jewish–Christians there, there were undoubtedly more Gentile–Christians.
In the very first words, in the very first verses of the very first chapter of his letter, Paul declared his credentials and his identity, and for that matter, their identity, too, as fellow Christians.
Paul is a “slave of Jesus Christ,” meaning every word and action of his life was to be faithful to “his master.”
Paul knew who he was, therefore, namely, “an Apostle set apart for the Gospel of God.”
He then reiterates who this Jesus is as a descendent of David, but also “established as Son of God in power.”
And then he also declares and calls these Gentile-Christians who have “received the grace of apostleship … and called to belong to Jesus Christ.”
To be sure, Paul minces no words here, but simply tells it like it is.
This is not an introduction, but rather a super-introduction.
This is a “this is who I am” and a “this is who you are” and a “this is who we must become” introduction.
And clearly, Paul is on a mission and has a job he must do; without any doubt, he delivers!
+ Jesus, on the other hand, is dealing with so much blindness and deafness and hard hearts and unwillingness to believe.
And Jesus makes a deadly comparison, or rather contrast.
Jesus, just a little while before, in last Saturday’s Gospel, spoke out, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
This he said in response to a woman who had said, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you” — a beautiful tribute to Jesus’ mother.
But Jesus was not reducing in any way his respect and love, or the importance of his mother.
Rather, he was saying and showing that the spiritual connection in God was greater and deeper, even than biological connections.
Or as we might say today, to be a “brother or sister in Christ” is even deeper than simply being biological brothers and sisters.
We do not choose our biological connections; they are a given.
But to choose again and again and again a relationship in Christ is a living out of our Gospel call.
And, says Jesus today, “this generation is an evil generation — it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah.”
Imagine! The whole and entire, and very large and very Gentile and very probably Pagan city of Nineveh, heard only one day of Jonah’s preaching, and they repented!
Now that’s a sign!
And then he includes the “queen of the south” and “Solomon,” and being drawn into “listening to” and “hearing” and “believing” — something that this generation and this people could or would not do.
And they had someone, that is, Jesus, “better than Jonah” here.
As we listen to Jesus excoriate the people in this passage, the message comes into our “back door,” so to speak, to question if we are truly listening to and hearing the words of Jesus.
Hopefully we are not “looking for signs,” but have indeed found more than a sign.
Rather, we have found the life and the eternal life that Jesus the Christ offers.
We have claimed our discipleship and apostleship in Christ, just like Paul.
Father Perry Dean Leiker is the 13th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at pleiker@stbernard-church.com.
