Fr Paul reads from the Gospel of Luke (11:29-32) where Jesus addresses the crowd and speaks of the Sign of Jonah.

Fr Paul says at different times in the scriptures, people like the scribes and the Pharisees ask Jesus for a sign. At some of these times Jesus refuses to give such a sign. In the Gospel today though we hear the use of the term ‘son of man’ and we hear Jesus offering the sign of the prophet Jonah. Quite simply, Jonah’s mission to the Ninevites was all about conversion. The wicked city listened to Jonah and immediately converted and did penance.

Fr Paul says that this is the same with Solomon, he is a figure for wisdom. We hear the gentile Queen of the South recognised the God given wisdom of Solomon and came from the ends of the Earth to hear him. In both cases we are told that something now, there is something greater then Jonah and Solomon. That someone is now present, but still people refuse to listen and convert.

As we continue we Lenten Journey, Fr Paul asks us to reflect on these two messages: – How well we are listening to the message of God? – How well are we listening to the call to repent and to come back to God?