Word to the Wise
Wednesday, March 12, 2014 - 1st Week of Lent - Wed
[Jonah 3:1-10 and Luke 11:29-32,300]The word of the Lord cane to Jonah a second time: "Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and announce to it the message that I will tell you." [Jonah]
In the rock musical, Jesus Christ, Superstar, Herod mocks Jesus and sings, "Prove to me that you're no fool. Walk across my swimming pool!" In the desert, the devil tempts Jesus with the opportunity to "prove" he is the Son of God by either turning stones into bread or jumping safely off the top of the temple. In today's gospel passage, Jesus, with what seems like irritation and weariness at the continual demands for "a sign," tells the people that if they want a sign they should consider Jonah! The irony here is that Jonah was successful in getting the Ninehvites to repent. Jesus was not experiencing the same success! What was needed was repentance, not sideshows!
Belief in miracles should not deteriorate into "daring God" to prove God's existence! As St. Paul points out in Romans 1:20, the signs of God's existence have been around us since the dawn of creation! The greatest "sign" that Jesus would provide was his death and resurrection, which he also uses Jonah to preach [cf. Mt. 12:40]. If this does not move us to repentance, what will? AMEN