Are You A Ninevite or A Pharisee?

"The crowds got even bigger and he addressed them, 'This is an evil generation; it is asking for a sign. The only sign it will be given is the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of man be a sign to this generation. On Judgement Day the Queen of the South will stand up against the people of this generation and be their condemnation, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, look, there is something greater than Solomon here. On Judgement Day the men of Nineveh will appear against this generation and be its condemnation, because when Jonah preached they repented; and, look, there is something greater than Jonah here." Luke 11:29-32

SIGN LANGUAGE

"No sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah." —Luke 11:29

In today's Gospel, Jesus was likely speaking to Jews, believers in God (see Lk 11:37). Jesus' message for his believing hearers was that they would be given only the sign of Jonah (Lk 11:29), who was "buried" for three days and then "rose" to new life. Since Jesus' hearers couldn't have imagined Jesus' impending death and resurrection, the meaning of the sign would likely have been that the worst sinners are capable of unimaginable repentance. Jesus wanted the believing Jews to know that repentant pagans and sinners would be entering the Kingdom of God, even before they would (see Mt 21:31).
Therefore, because of such a great sign, we believers should:

• Reform our lives, as the kingdom of God is here (Mk 1:15). The Ninevites "believed God" and repented deeply (Jon 3:5). The believing Jews grew angry when they heard the pagans accepted God (Lk 4:27-28ff; Jon 4:1ff). We also can miss the sign if we fail to repent and change our lives.
  
• Seek wisdom (Prv 4:7). As the pagan queen of the South traveled great distances at great expense (1 Kgs 10:1ff), so should we spare no expense to seek wisdom now (Jas 1:5; Mt 2:1ff), lest we fall away from God (1 Cor 10:12).
  
• Spread the good news to nonbelievers, who will receive it (Acts 28:28).
  

Heed the sign of Jonah. Repent; humbly seek God's wisdom; evangelize. Enter the Kingdom of God.

One Bread, One Body