Jonah is a central figure in today's readings. The first reading is from Jonah 3. Jonah obeys God's command to go and preach repentance to Nineveh. And Jesus mentions Jonah in the Gospel reading from Luke 11.
Jesus said, "This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation." So what was the sign of Jonah?
Actually, there may be multiple answers to this question. Jonah went and preached repentance to the Ninevites, who were gentiles. This prefigures Jesus, who came to preach repentance not just to the Jews, but to the gentiles also. Additionally, Jonah spent three days and nights in the belly of the great fish. Now, through a miracle from God, Jonah could have lived through that. But chances are good that he died. That would mean that on the third day, he was resurrected from the dead. Sound familiar? Here's your sign.
Father, give us eyes to see the many signs around us that point us to you. May our eyes and ears, hearts and minds be open to the signs. Amen.
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