Gospel: Matthew 12:38-42
Then, some teachers of the law and some Pharisees spoke up,
“Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” Jesus answered
them, “An evil and unfaithful people want a sign; but no sign will
be given them, except the sign of the prophet Jonah. In the same
way, as Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the
whale, so will the Son of Man spend three days and three nights
in the heart of the earth.At the judgment, the people of Nineveh will rise with this
generation, and condemn it; because they reformed their lives at
the preaching of Jonah, and here, there is greater than Jonah. At
the judgment, the Queen of the South will stand up and condemn
you. She came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of
Solomon; and here, there is greater than Solomon.
Reflection
The sign of Jonah.
Liturgies are beautiful expressions of our Catholic faith. The Church teaches us that devotion
leads us to the beauty and truth of God. This is also true for the sacraments; these signs point us
to the ultimate mystery of God's presence within us and the Church.
These signs of faith help us deepen our relationship with God and strengthen our commitment
to participate in building God's kingdom.
Jesus is the ultimate sign of the Father for us. When asked by the Pharisees for a "sign," He
confronts their desire for extraordinary displays of power as a basis for faith. Instead, He urges
them to recognize God's work already present in the world genuinely. Jesus emphasizes that they
will only receive the "sign of Jonah," which signifies His death and resurrection. This powerful
symbol represents His sacrifice and ultimate victory over death, calling for a deeper level of faith
that goes beyond mere spectacle.
Jesus's life is our sign and model for living under God and His kingdom. May we continue to
be inspired by Him.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2026