Gospel of Luke, chapter 11:9

St. Paul once remarked that Jews demand signs, but Christians proclaim Christ who was crucified (1 Corinthians 1:22). The signs that the Jewish leaders demanded of Jesus were miracles; and no matter how many miracles He performed, they were never satisfied.

Jesus addresses the Jewish authorities in today’s scripture and he condemned their age for being evil because it seeks a sign. There is nothing wrong with appreciating signs or miracles that confirm the faith. Jesus performed many miracles of healing during His public ministry, but the Jewish authorities were unmoved and even tried to undermine Him by claiming that the signs He performed were done by the power of Beelzebub, the prince of devils (Mtt 12:22-37).

The sign that Jesus offered the Jews was Himself; a living sign of the Way, the Truth, and the Life. This living sign was crucified by the Jews on the cross. But, He rose again from the dead. The sign of Jonah in the Old Testament who spent three days in the belly of a whale before being dropped off on the shores of Nineveh, is the sign that Jesus offers the Jews:
“Just as Jonah was a sign for the Ninevites,” he said, “so will the Son of man be a sign for the present age.” (Luke 11:30).

Jonah was a symbol of the Resurrection of Jesus because He spent three days in the belly of the whale just as Jesus spent three days in the tomb before rising again.

Many Christians show a tendency to seek signs just like the Jews in today’s scripture. Jesus was often disturbed when people flocked to Him, seeking a sign rather than seeking to follow Him. The same thing is true today. Many Catholics flock to Medugorie, a doubtful place of miracles, seeking signs of the Virgin when it lacks the approval of the Church. Millions of Protestant Christians follow shows by television
Evangelists who promise endless signs and miracles.

We need no other sign then the sign of the Living Christ who died for our sins, and rose to life again. He has given us the words of life to rescue us from sin, and to enter into new life with Him. What greater sign could we desire than that!

Fr. Hugh Duffy