The Sign of Jonah

"This is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah."  This short excerpt from today's Gospel, found in the Gospel of Luke, shakes us up a bit.  The listeners of Jesus are demanding signs and works that would demonstrate that he is the Messiah.  I think about how children will ask dozens of questions about the 'hows' and 'whys' of all things, until the parent, in frustration, says, "Just because!" 

Jesus pointing to the conversion of a people many centuries before his time.  The people would have known this story.  Jesus is directing his hearers to ponder the faithfulness of these people who turned from Sin and Evil simply on the words of the prophet.  Today we find this same challenge in the words of sacred scripture, and in our faith tradition. 

Speaking with a group of priests yesterday, we were discussing the tendency towards a 'soft-Christology.'  We would like to imagine that Jesus is only going to say nice things to us.  As parents, when our four year old brings the latest crayon drawing to us, it is proudly displayed on the refrigerator door.  We would hope though that when the child is eight or nine, they have moved beyond stick figures.  Recall that Jesus continues to have the apostles open their hearts and minds to the real meaning of the Kingdom.

The love of God is beyond our comprehension.  St. John reminds us that God so loved the world that he sent his Son in the mystery of the incarnation, that we might experience salvation and peace.  St. Paul wants us to understand that Jesus comes into our lives as the sign and symbol of the Father's love for us.  But to paraphrase the psalmist, who asks us, what response can we make to the Lord for all he good that He has done for us? 

Well that response would be one of conversion, a change of heart, and discipleship.  If we do not continue to mull over the Word of God in our lives, we begin to take on the nature of apathy and a lackluster heart.  We are to cling to what is good and refused to be mastered by evil.  The ashes we received the other day are not meant to be a magical potion to keep us away from Sin.  They mark a commitment of belief that draws us out of darkness so as to share His marvelous light.