The Gospel for October 26, 2004 (Alfred the Great)
Luke 11:27-36
It happened that as he was speaking, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, ‘Blessed the womb that bore you and the breasts that fed you!’ But he replied, ‘More blessed still are those who hear the word of God and keep it!’ The crowds got even bigger and he addressed them, ‘This is an evil generation; it is asking for a sign. The only sign it will be given is the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of man be a sign to this generation. On Judgement Day, the Queen of the South will stand up against the people of this generation and be their condemnation, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, look, there is something greater than Solomon here. On Judgement Day the men of Nineveh will appear against this generation and be its condemnation, because when Jonah preached they repented; and, look, there is something greater than Jonah here. ‘No one lights a lamp and puts it in some hidden place or under a tub; they put it on the lamp–stand so that people may see the light when they come in. The lamp of the body is your eye. When your eye is clear, your whole body, too, is filled with light; but when it is diseased your body, too, will be darkened. See to it then that the light inside you is not darkness. If, therefore, your whole body is filled with light, and not darkened at all, it will be light entirely, as when the lamp shines on you with its rays.’ -- The New Jerusalem Bible. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1995, c1985
A Study
Just prior to this, Jesus had cast out a demon making a man mute; but the ones in the crowd trying to test him wanted a big sign from him. Jesus instead gave them instructions about becoming strong in the spirit once evil has been cast out from the spirit, in order to prevent evil's return.
After the distraction of this woman's outcry, Jesus goes on to elaborate on this concept.
A Reflection
Today's reading from Ecclesiasticus speaks about Wisdom settling herself in Jacob, Abraham's grandson who fathered the nation of Israel. Jonah used Wisdom to convince Nineveh; the Queen of Shebah was impressed by Wisdom as expressed by Solomon (remember "Wise as Solomon"?).
Jesus puts a fine point on his argument: what He is telling them is far better than what Jonah used to convince Nineveh, but they are not listening. Their diseased eyes will not admit the Light of Jesus' wisdom into them, so darkness remains. If they were able to see, their spiritual bodies would be filled with His light, not with the darkness of the evil ones.
The Collect
O Sovereign Lord, who brought your servant Alfred to a troubled throne that he might establish peace in a ravaged land and revive learning and the arts among the people: Awake in us also a keen desire to increase our understanding while we are in this world, and an eager longing to reach that endless life where all will be made clear; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
11:26:04 PM 
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