REFLECTIONS TODAY

Many people in the crowd are not content with the miracles (“signs”) done by Jesus. They do not undergo repentance (metanoia), as their hearts remain unchanged. A “sign” is an action or event whose presence indicates the probable presence or occurrence of something else, but is not an automatic proof of it. Jesus’ mighty deeds testify that in him the Kingdom of God has come. His detractors, however, want him to perform something that will remove any doubt about his person or authority. Jesus refuses to produce a colossal sign to entertain them. Instead, he gives them the sign of Jonah (Jon 3:2-3).
Coming from distant Palestine to Assyrian Nineveh, the prophet Jonah warns the great city of God’s punishment because of the inhabitants’ wicked ways. The people of Nineveh are unaware of Jonah’s adventure with the big fish, which swallowed him. They, however, see their sins, and the preaching of Jonah is a “sign” that they must repent of their sins lest they be destroyed. For Jesus, pagan Nineveh fares better than the Galilean towns which saw his miracles but remained unrepentant (Lk 10:13-16).
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2023,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.