A Jesuit Catholic University
in Omaha, Nebraska, since 1878

[467] Galatians 4:22-24, 26-27, 31-5:1 Psalm 113:1b-2, 3-4, 5a+6-7 Luke 11:29-32

Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer The Daily Reflections

Today’s gospel reading can seem to be pretty negative, or at the very least critical of humanity. But behind the veil of condemnation, critique, and the repeated reference to an “evil” generation (mentioned in the gospel several times), I think there is a hidden message of positivity. Once again, I believe it is rooted in a the mysterious brilliance of paradox.

Reading through this passage the first time, I was struck by its harsh depiction of humanity—as referenced above. But upon a second reading, I came to notice two other lines, “There is something greater than Solomon here,” and “There is something greater than Jonah here.” In light of this—and my understanding of God as love and creation as fundamentally good (as mentioned elsewhere in scripture and tradition)—I believe that WE are that “something greater.”

We are sinners, of course. We have all done wrong at some point, and could all use a little bit of condemnation from time to time… but that is not all we are. We are greater than our sins and failures. After all, I don’t think many of us tend to view our friends and family at the lowest point we have ever seen them; I don’t think our first impulse when we see someone is to immediately associate them with the worst experience/encounter we have ever had with them. Why? … because we are more than that… we all are “Something greater.”