The sign of Jonah

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031225.cfm

The story of Jonah, the reluctant prophet is so real and rich and gritty. He is like us, you know. We get prejudice in our heads and hearts for certain people and we don't even want God to care for them. Imagine how relieved Jonah was when he realized that he got to foretell the destruction of Ninevah! 40 days more and Ninevah will be destroyed!

I think that perhaps Jonah's zeal for this message might have been part of his effectiveness as a prophet. More on that later.

But in the Gospel, Jesus speaks of the

'sign of Jonah', which will not be '40 days and Ninevah will be destroyed', but three days in the belly of the whale and he will emerge alive. It was likely this incredible tale of Jonah's survival that led people to believe his words and repent. In the time of the early Christians it was the story of the Resurrection that led many Jews to repent and join the Christian movement.

Interestingly enough, Jesus had his warning as well. He foretold the destruction of the temple, which occurred roughly 40 years later. The Jews that had repented survived as Christians, and Jesus knew that some would not respond to the sign that would be given them. Nothing grieved His heart more.

So in the 40 days that we are in the midst of, will we, like the Ninevites, repent and put on our Lenten sacrifices? Will we allow our lives to be swayed by the three-day journey that Jesus takes on our behalf? Will we learn to exercise our free will for Him, and unite our lives to Him, or will we wait for the destruction of the idols that we have built for ourselves? There is plenty of time left, and plenty of forgiveness if our efforts haven't been up to snuff yet - we have 40 days to get there.