REFLECTIONS TODAY New Testament references to the prophet Jonah are found in Matthew (12:39-41) and Luke (11:29-30). The one in Matthew prefigures Jesus’ death and, implicitly, Jesus’ resurrection. The one in Luke is part of today’s Gospel reading. It conveys the message that as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, Jesus was also a sign to the people of his time. But what kind of sign to the Ninevites was Jonah? We may reflect that Jonah has become the representative of those who are challenged to forgive even their enemies. The Ninevites were the enemies of Jonah’s people, and he was sent by the Lord that the Ninevites might be saved. Jesus challenges us to forgive while he himself sets us the example par excellence, forgiving even his executioners: “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” (Lk 23:34). Are we humble enough to ask for forgiveness when we did something wrong? Can we truly forgive the people who hurt us? What are the things that hinder us from asking for forgiveness and from forgiving those who caused us pain? Gospel • Luke 11:29-32 While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, “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. At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here. At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.” 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.