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Monday, October 16, 2023

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St. Hedwig
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque


Romans 1:1-7
Psalm 98:1-4
Luke 11:29-32

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so much greater

“You have a greater than Solomon here.” —Luke 11:31

A great religious event occurred at Nineveh, a wicked city of 120,000 people (Jon 4:11). “At the preaching of Jonah they reformed” (Lk 11:32; Jon 3:5ff).

The Queen of Sheba “came from the farthest corner of the world to listen to the wisdom of Solomon” (Lk 11:31). She was thrilled and “breathless” at what she saw (1 Kgs 10:5ff), and proclaimed the greatness of the God of Israel (1 Kgs 10:9).

St. Paul testified to the Romans about the greatness of salvation in Jesus Christ (Rm 1:4-7). In Jesus, there is something greater indeed! (Lk 11:31-32)

If we, to whom Jesus has been revealed ignore so great a salvation (Heb 2:3), what remains for us? Paul spells out the greatness of this call to salvation (see Rm 1:6). The Psalmist proclaims the great news that “the Lord has made His salvation known” (Ps 98:2). Jesus clarifies the greatness of this salvation by saying: “There is something greater here” (see Lk 11:31-32).

Jonah, the Queen of Sheba, St. Paul, the Psalmist, and Jesus are loudly and clearly proclaiming something great to us. Are we listening? “Let everyone who has ears attend to what” he or she “has heard” (Lk 8:8). “Great is the glory of the Lord” (Ps 138:5).

Prayer:  Father, how great and mighty You are! I devote my life to proclaiming Your greatness and the greatness of Your salvation.

Promise:  “...among whom are you who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ.” —Rm 1:6

Praise:  St. Hedwig remained faithful to her husband even though she suffered much from his violence and quarrelsome behavior.

Reference:  (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)

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