Seeking Something Greater than the Sign of Jonah from Jesus for Lent – Wednesday of the First Week of Lent

 God certainly despises those who come to God with wrong motives.  That is why Jesus warned us not to begin our Lenten practice with wrong mindset through the Gospel Reading for Ash Wednesday (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18) and further reflected on the  First Readings for Friday and Saturday after Ash Wednesday (Isaiah 58:1-9, 9-14). This is why we must enter the season of Lent, as led by the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the Judean wilderness (Matthew 4:1//Mark 1:12//Luke 4:1).

The Gospel Reading for Wednesday of the First Week of Lent (Luke 11:29-32) reminds us that Jesus rejected to show miraculous signs to those who asked him with wrong reasons or motives, except the sign of Jonah, while regarding these people as “wrong generation”(v. 29). In other words, Jesus made it clear that the only sign given to those who are wicked is not a miraculous sign like the seven signs in John’s Gospel ( 2:1-11: 4:46-54: 5:1-15: 6:5-14: 6:16-24: 9:1-7: 11:1-45 ) but the sign of Jonah.

Why?

Because, the wicked, who ask for a miraculous sign out of wrong motives, need to repent first with the sign of Jonah.

Those who ask Jesus for a miraculous sign out of wrong motives are like Satan who asked Jesus to turn stones into bread (Matthew 4:3) , as well as, those who mocked Jesus on the Cross, saying him to “save yourself” (Matthew 27:39-44). What they need first is the sign of Jonah, which is a sign that prompts us to repent. And it is reflected in the First Reading (Jonah 3:1-10), the fact that Jonah converted the wicked in Nineveh, thus, saving them from God’s burning wrath.

If we do not want to be rejected and do not want our request be rejected by God, the, we first need to repent with the sign of Jonah. As we are with contrite heart through our repentance, God will not reject us, as reflected in the refrain of the Responsorial Psalm:

A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn (Psalm 51:19b).

Unless we repent and become humble, God will reject even our offerings (Psalm 51:18), as Jesus rejects a request for a miraculous sign by the wicked (Luke 11:29).

In the Gospel Reading (Luke 11:29-32), in addition to how the sign of Jonah (Jonah 3:1-10) led the Ninevites into repentance and conversion (Luke 11:30), Jesus also reminds how Queen of Sheba (queen of the south) sought for Solomon’s wisdom (Luke 11:31), referring to 1 Kings 10:1; 2 Chronicles 9:1. Thus, through vv. 30-31, Jesus tells us that Jesus has come to give a sign of miracles to those who deserve for their repentance and humility but to give only the sign of Jonah for repentance, as Jonah brought repentance to the Ninevites – so that the wicked of his generation may be like Queen Sheba, who sought King Solomon’s wisdom – so that they may seek the wisdom from Jesus, who is greater than King Solomon and listen to Jesus, who is greater than Jonah, for penance.

Otherwise, our hearts would not be contrite during this Lent. If that is the case, then, we must let wrong spirits led us into the season of Lent. Consequently, then,  our practice of the Lenten virtues, such as prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, would be in vain, as such are not acceptable to God, just as offering by the wicked to God are rejected by God.