In the gospel reading, Jesus had to confront the people of his own generation, who refused to see the grace of God, in their midst. They had witnessed the work of God in action, for instance, the casting out of demon from a mute person as recorded in today’s gospel, yet they asked for signs.
Seeking of signs represents resisting the Holy Spirit. It’s a sign of their lack of faith.
But receiving a sign from God is different than seeking a sign from God. Jesus strongly condemns those coming and seeking signs. Jesus wants us to seek Him through the gift of faith.
Jesus states that no sign will be given except the sign of Jonah. The “sign of Jonah” refers to Jesus’ Crucifixion, death, three days in the tomb and Resurrection.
Jesus never performed signs simply for the sake of performing signs. All the miracles attributed to him were either to fulfill a need that he saw, or to demonstrate the power of God.
All the miracles of Jesus point to His identity, to His mission.
The “sign of Jonah” would turn out to be Jesus’ greatest miracle of all.
Jesus’ resurrection from the dead would be God’s chief sign that Jesus was Israel’s long-awaited Messiah (Acts 2:23–32).
May Jesus’s rebuke be a wake up call for us as we encounter the grace of God in our lives and in the live of our sisters and brothers.
Have a wonderful Week
