I have always been intrigued with today’s first reading, of how in those simple words proclaimed by Jonah, the Ninevites actually repented and turned over a new leaf. They were remorseful, and they repented and fasted.
As I was dwelling on this first reading, it struck me that being obedient to the Lord, our God, and being chosen as a prophet for Him, He causes His face to shine upon those He sends. It was not only a matter of the words that came out from the prophet’s mouth, or rather Jonah in this instance, but that he brought about the countenance of the Lord, our God, and that is why hearts were changed.
Likewise, in today’s Gospel, we hear how Jesus frowned upon the fact that the people were asking for a sign. For Jesus Himself, was the sign of all signs. He came from God, our Heavenly Father, and He brought light into the darkness.
Likewise, when we are obedient and follow after our Lord, we too shall bring His light into the world. We become the sign of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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First reading
Jonah 3:1-10
The Ninevites repent, and God spares them
The word of the Lord was addressed to Jonah: ‘Up!’ he said ‘Go to Nineveh, the great city, and preach to them as I told you to.’ Jonah set out and went to Nineveh in obedience to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was a city great beyond compare: it took three days to cross it. Jonah went on into the city, making a day’s journey. He preached in these words, ‘Only forty days more and Nineveh is going to be destroyed.’ And the people of Nineveh believed in God; they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least. The news reached the king of Nineveh, who rose from his throne, took off his robe, put on sackcloth and sat down in ashes. A proclamation was then promulgated throughout Nineveh, by decree of the king and his ministers, as follows: ‘Men and beasts, herds and flocks, are to taste nothing; they must not eat, they must not drink water. All are to put on sackcloth and call on God with all their might; and let everyone renounce his evil behaviour and the wicked things he has done. Who knows if God will not change his mind and relent, if he will not renounce his burning wrath, so that we do not perish?’ God saw their efforts to renounce their evil behaviour, and God relented: he did not inflict on them the disaster which he had threatened.
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Gospel
Luke 11:29-32
As Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be a sign
The crowds got even bigger, and Jesus addressed them:
‘This is a wicked 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 Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. On Judgement day the Queen of the South will rise up with the men of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here. On Judgement day the men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation and condemn it, because when Jonah preached they repented; and there is something greater than Jonah here.’
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