Commentary on the Gospel of
Sign of Jonah
Asking for a sign is an effort to circumvent the necessary laborious journey of faith. Faith is all about trusting God’s words and walking the valley of darkness. It is letting the mustard seed grow in the darkness and depth of our interiors. On the other hand, insistence on signs and miracles (which is aplenty among the faithful of any religion) is short-circuiting the journey of maturation in faith. Jesus refuses to give any sign other than the sign of Jonah, which is all about Jonah’s journey, through the belly of the whale, into greater faith. Though unwillingly, Jonah lets himself be birthed into faith. It is a baptism, a paschal mystery, that each one of us must undergo, in one’s own unique way and assisted by grace, to arrive at genuine faith. And, once we arrive, like Job, we wouldn’t ask for anything but only adore in awe and love.
