Wednesday, March 12, 2003
1^st Week of Lent

1st Reading: Jon 3:1-10
Gospel: Lk 11:29-32

As the crowd increased, Jesus began to speak in this way, “People of the present time are evil people. They ask for a sign, but no sign will be given to them except the sign of Jonah. As Jonah became a sign for the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be a sign for this generation. The Queen of the South will rise up on Judgment Day with the people of these times and accuse them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and here there is greater than Solomon. The people of Nineveh will rise up on Judgment Day with the people of these times and accuse them, for Jonah’s preaching made them turn from their sins, and here there is greater than Jonah.”

Commentary

The Jews were constantly looking for “signs” that would provide some sort of proof of God’s continued presence in their world. From the time of their ancestors, Yahweh who had guided them out of Egypt, through the desert, and into the Promised Land, had led them with signs and wonders. Jesus presented himself as a man of God, and so it was natural for the Jews to look for some sign that he was not another impostor, of which they’ve had many. But what most likely irked Jesus was not so much their asking for a sign, as much as the reason behind their looking for one. One who looks for signs looks for them because he wants to believe more, or simply because he doesn’t believe. These people were of the latter kind, and so no sign could really make them believe. For one who doesn’t believe, no sign will be enough. We too are like them at times, stubborn in our disbelief, failing to see the great and marvelous deeds God does in our everyday lives, unable to detect his presence because we have closed our eyes to him. Jesus challenges us then to open our eyes, for he is there in our midst, asking us to pay attention to his presence.

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