It is natural and human to seek signs. We always want assurances or proofs that God is indeed with us. In the book of Isaiah King Ahaz is instructed to seek a sign: “Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: Ask for a sign from the Lord, your God; let it be deep as Sheol, or high as the sky! But Ahaz answered, ‘I will not ask! I will not tempt the Lord!’” (Isaiah 7:10-12). While Ahaz’s answer seems at first to be pious in fact it is just the opposite. If God gives him a sign that he must give up trust in military alliances and trust in God: “Listen, house of David! Is it not enough that you weary human beings? Must you also weary my God? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign; the young woman, pregnant and about to bear a son, shall name him Emmanuel.” (7:13-14). The sign of the young woman or virgin with child is a sign that God is with them.
In today’s Gospel God is also with them since Jesus is Emmanuel (Matthew 1:23; 28:20). Jesus himself is the sign, his teaching and his works reveal that God is with them. In spite of his powerful presence the people are still seeking more signs. Jesus promises them one more sign. This sign at first appears to be a sign of weakness and death but in fact it is a sign of strength and resurrection: “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah.” The sign of Jonah was his ministry of preaching and his call to repentance. Jesus has preached this same message: “Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: ‘This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.’” (Mark 1:14-15). The sign of Jonah is also the sign of Jesus’ resurrection: “Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.” (Matthew 12:40).
In the Gospel Jesus like Jonah invites us to repent, to turn to God who is “at hand” and ready to welcome us with open arms. Like the people in today’s Gospel, you and I are challenged to stop looking for more and more signs and see the sign that is already in our midst, Jesus, who is Emmanuel, God who is with us.
Image: “Jonah is thrown overboard” by Lawrence OP is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.