“Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.”
Sometimes the desire for a sign from God is insincere. Rather than a genuine curiosity about whether Jesus might be who he said he was the scribes and the Pharisees were seeking excuses to condemn him. Jesus had already performed enough miracles in their midst that some said, "We never saw anything like this!" (see Mark 2:12) and "He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak" (see Mark 7:37). But the Pharisees were content to attribute such miracles to the power of the prince of demons (see Matthew 9:34). It wasn't likely that one more sign would be any different.
“Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.”
We too sometimes seek a sign insincerely. Jesus has more than validated the reality of his existence, his power and authority, in our own lives. We believe in him, but sometimes we still insist on a sign. This can sometimes be a delaying tactic when we know Jesus is calling us to something we don't want to do. It can sometimes come from a desire to be entertained, to see something impressive as a distraction from more important matters of the heart about which Jesus is primarily concerned.
I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes.
Jesus does not humor requests for signs when they are insincere and have the potential to do more harm than good. This is why signs are often abundant for genuine seekers but not as much for those who already know and follow him. Demonstrations of the Spirit and power and perfectly appropriate to bring sincere seekers to faith. This was why Jesus himself did in fact perform plenty of signs. But he knew that there were those for whom signs would only lead to an ever deeper hardening of the heart. He knew that these individuals were perilously close to the sin against the Holy Spirit, calling good evil and evil good, putting themselves almost beyond reach of mercy. But although Jesus did not give them the sort of signs they were seeking he did reserve for them a sign which could still reach them.
no sign will be given it
except the sign of Jonah the prophet.
In the Pascal mystery of Jesus they would see their own sins drawn up before their eyes as they condemned an innocent man to death. They would witness God's definitive judgment on their sins and on all sin. The resurrection was the final confirmation of the Father's approval of the Son, and the unanswerable authentication of his message. The Father had spoken from heaven to tell the world that Jesus was his only beloved Son with whom he was well pleased. By the resurrection he demonstrated the truth of his words. It served as a last resort to ransom those who hearts were hardened to his words and who signs and wonders could no longer impress.
she came from the ends of the earth
to hear the wisdom of Solomon;
and there is something greater than Solomon here.
We have access to greater wisdom than that of Solomon, preaching with greater truth and power than that of Jonah. There is more than enough for us to recognize Jesus in our midst. Let us not respond like the evil and unfaithful generation in the desert who received the miraculous and providential care of God and responded with ingratitude and grumbling.
O my people, what have I done to you,
or how have I wearied you? Answer me!
We are perhaps a little frightened of the purifying fire contained in the Pascal mystery, afraid of what it would mean to seek holiness in truth and not merely in speech and pretense. This may be why we seek delay and distraction. But that fire of love and holiness will not destroy us. God doesn't desire sacrifice for its own sake. He is not interested in only taking things from us until we have nothing left. He is rather interested in emptying our cup so that we can be filled with what he himself has to give. It is not necessarily dramatic or glamorous. But it is good, the only way we can flourish in life. And it is not actually that complicated. In fact, in its simplicity and purity we discover a way of living that can be sustained, not merely until we are given the next sign, but for a lifetime.
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