Commentary on the Gospel for Monday, October 14, 2024

That’s a great sign.

Some people ask for «signs» from God to be sure that something is God’s will or, in a bold move, to prove his presence or existence. This seems a bit daring and, dare I say, a bit offensive. Does God really need to prove his own existence or his presence?

But God is merciful and does send signs. A smile in a difficult moment, a helping hand when it’s needed, a joyful family moment, a medical diagnosis that makes you wonder how to go on living. An encounter with someone who gives the right word at the right time. Sometimes these small signs go unnoticed.

That’s why today, from a pedagogical standpoint, we’re encouraged to reflect on the significance of the sign of signs, namely the story of Jonah. The ultimate sign—a whale, no less! Just to be safe. A whale that brings the prophet back to life with a spout of water. But the sign of Jonah actually points to something even greater. But there’s something even greater than the whale, even if it’s not as «visible» and much more glorious. That’s the sign of the Cross, and then there’s the sign of Christ’s tomb. A little splash of water (not a whale spout) from the side of Christ marks the beginning of the Church. A stone rolled from a tomb marks the start of eternal life for those who accept this risen Lord. The three days of Jonah in the whale’s belly, in all their drama and impossibility, pale in comparison to the three days of Jesus’ death in the tomb. What more sign do we need than the certainty of life forever? What more sign would we need than the open arms of Christ on the Cross, which speak volumes about an unfathomable and mysterious love?

Every day, we can find lots of signs of hope and life. All of them, no matter how small, point to the bigger sign of the Cross and the water and Blood that give life and eternal life.