Daily Catholic Lectio
Mon, 12 October 2026
XXVIII Week in Ordinary Time
Gal 4:22-24, 26-27, 31, 5:1. Lk 11:29-32
Greater than Jonah
Some people of Jesus’ time, who were hesitant to accept Him, asked Him for a sign.
In the Old Testament, the people of Israel tested God by asking, “Is the Lord among us or not?” (cf. Ex 17:7). Kings also asked for signs in order to know whether the message of a prophet was true (cf. Isa 7:14).
Asking for a sign can become a way of testing God. It can reveal three things about the person who asks. First, hesitation or lack of faith. Second, suspicion that the other person may not be telling the truth. Third, a low opinion of the other person.
Those who ask Jesus for a sign hesitate to believe in Him. They suspect that His message may not be true. They also wonder how someone from such a simple background can speak about the Kingdom of heaven.
Jesus calls those who ask Him for a sign “an evil generation.” Their evil is seen in their double-mindedness and hypocrisy. The word “generation” also connects them with the attitude of their ancestors.
Jesus says that no sign will be given except the sign of Jonah. He also brings in the example of Solomon. Finally, He declares that He is greater than Jonah and greater than Solomon.
Jonah proclaimed the message of repentance in Nineveh. When God called him, he tried to run away. He spent three days in the belly of the fish. He crossed in one day what should have taken three days, and he proclaimed the message almost reluctantly. Yet the people of Nineveh listened to his preaching and responded with repentance.
Jesus, on the other hand, proclaims the Good News in Judea, Samaria, and Galilee. In obedience to the will of the Father, He takes human flesh. Before His resurrection, He remains for three days in the heart of the earth. Together with His preaching, He also performs mighty works. Yet the people refuse to accept Him and His message. Therefore, Jesus is greater than Jonah.
Solomon, the son of David, was king over the united kingdom of Israel. He asked God for wisdom and received it. With that wisdom, he built the Temple and governed the people. When the Queen of Sheba heard about Solomon’s wisdom, she came to see him. She was amazed by his wisdom and honoured him with gifts.
Jesus too is called the Son of David. He proclaims the Kingdom of God. He is the Wisdom of God made flesh. He presents Himself as the living Temple. He guides the people through His teaching. Yet instead of admiring His wisdom, people take offence at His simple background. Therefore, Jesus is greater than Solomon.
The people of Nineveh and the Queen of Sheba will stand as a rebuke to the unbelief of Jesus’ contemporaries.
What lessons does this event give us?
First, faith does not depend on signs.
Saint Thomas Aquinas says in effect: the one who keeps asking for signs does not yet believe; the one who truly believes does not need signs. The people of Jesus’ time remained unwilling to believe in Him. Today, do we have enough faith to accept Jesus and follow Him? Or are we still asking Him for signs?
Second, do not hand over the direction of your life to the reactions of others. Jonah, Solomon, and Jesus each carried out the mission given to them. The acceptance or rejection of others did not define their mission. But many times, we change the direction of our life depending on the reactions we receive from outside. We allow praise, criticism, acceptance, or rejection to decide how we live. When we do this, we hand over the control of our life to others. That is a mistake.
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
A Yesni Prays Initiative
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