“This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah” (Luke 11:29).
The rebuke that Jesus addresses in today’s Gospel passage from Luke brings up the story of the prophet Jonah. Jesus says that the only sign he is willing to give us is the “sign of Jonah.” And what is this sign about? The story of this strange prophet is contained in a brief account in which, beyond his particular personal experience, Jonah manages to convert the city of Nineveh not through miracles, special effects, or extraordinary signs, but solely through his bare words and his simple passage through the city of Nineveh.
Words and presence are how Jonah changes the fate of Nineveh. The same should be true for us Christians. Having faith only because we seek miracles and extraordinary effects means wasting what Jesus wants to give us to change our lives, namely, His Word and His very person.
We Christians possess a precious treasure, which is the Word of Jesus, the Gospel. We Christians possess this precious treasure, which is the person of Jesus. What else could we need if we have his word and his person? Yet it seems that we are not satisfied, and we are always looking for signs. But faith in signs is destined to end. Faith in Jesus, in his word, and his person remains forever.
(Painting: “Jonah and the Whale”, by Dutch painter Pieter Lastman, 1621)
