Homily For Wednesday of the First Week of Lent Year B, 21st February, 2024

Readings: Jonah 3:1-10, Ps.51, Luke 11:29-32

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

WHAT SIGNS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? THE SIGN OF JONAH IS ALL WE HAVE

 

Oftentimes, when we reflect on our struggle with the ugly situations in our lives, our families, societies and the world at large, we sincerely wish that God should give us a sign from heaven as a way of showing us some definitive guidance or direction towards addressing the situation. When these signs are not forthcoming we feel bad and begin to question God or even doubt his presence in our lives.  This was the disposition of the crowd in our Gospel passage today.

 

Where we heard how those who were listening to Jesus were anxious to know what signs to look out for when the End Times came. But Jesus said to them: “The only sign that will be given is the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. Hence, Jesus states that no sign will be given except the sign of Jonah.  The “sign of Jonah” in this passage refers to Jesus’ Crucifixion, death, his three days in the tomb and his Resurrection.  Just the way Jonah was three days in the belly of the whale. 

 

Thus, Jesus in this Gospel was referring to our first reading (Jonah 3:1-10), where because of the preaching of the prophet Jonah, the whole city of Nineveh went into great mourning and repentance before God. Everyone from the King, who issued the order to the whole city and its people to repent from their sins, right down to the lowest among the people, all humbled themselves, tore their clothes and wore sackcloth as a sign of penance. The point here is that  Jesus’ death and resurrection are the signs that will be given.  We should seek nothing other than this sacred mystery of our faith. This is the sign and actions that the Lord Jesus is talking about when he addressed the people who doubted him and demanded miraculous wonders and signs from him.

 

So, here Jesus strongly condemns those seeking signs because he wants us to seek him through the gift of faith rooted in the mystery of his death and resurrection. Every question, problem, struggle and confusion in our lives can be addressed when we enter into the great mystery of our redemption. So, seeking a sign other than this would be wrong, in that, it would be a way of saying that the death and resurrection of Jesus is not enough sign for us.

 

Dear Friends, as we embrace the activities of this Holy season of Lent, Jesus is calling us to repent for sins that make us blind in such a manner that we will continue to seek signs even when things are clear and obvious in our lives.  But the questions we need to ask ourselves are: what signs are we seeing around us today? How can we interpret the signs of this time, the signs that tell us that this world is passing away? Do these signs make us dread the second coming of the Lord or do we joyfully embrace it in anticipation?

 

Hence, Jesus is warning us today not to waste our time seeking for signs, rather we should be prepared, and we should remain firm in the faith. He reminds us that he is the only sign that can be given to humanity. Therefore, we should not join the crowds to look for signs, especially in times of trials, rather we should seek wisdom to make things right by turning our eyes to the central mystery of our faith which is the life, death and resurrection of Christ, where every question can be answered and every grace is obtained.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you are the sign that we seek,  as we embrace your word today give us the grace to recognize that in the Paschal mystery of Christ, we find the true sign we desire and so obtain the answer and directions to our daily struggles. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.