Wednesday of the First Week in Lent
(Jonah 3:1-0; Luke 11:29-32)
Enter almost any doctor’s office, and you will be asked for
a sign. The attendant will want to see
your insurance card guaranteeing the doctor will be paid. You can tell her or him that you have money
to cover the doctor’s fee. But don’t
expect to be believed. In today’s gospel
Jesus chastises the people for a similar lack of faith.
The people want Jesus to produce miracles on demand before
they believe in him. He tells them that
this is not God’s way. He says that just
as the Ninevites believed Jonah’s prophecy of a calamity unless they turned to
God for mercy, Jews should heed his similar message.
It is hard for some of us to believe. Perhaps we have been tricked or misled by
someone whom we thought was telling the truth.
But, as Jesus indicates, there is still plenty of reason to trust in God’s
word. We have life and more than enough
to eat. We probably have had at least
one parent who would have died for us and friends who are willing to help meet
our needs. These are all signs of a sort
indicating God’s abiding presence. There
is no need to hold out for miracles before believing in Him.
