March 01, 2023

Lk 11: 29-32

When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation. 

The queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here! 

The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here!

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.

The Sign of Jonah

Learning to juggle filled me with joy. I wanted to teach my younger brother, Tom, how. He didn’t seem interested. I stopped trying. He remembers me as dismissive. Later, when he was with some friends, he picked it up easily. Tom is now a professional juggler. 

Juggling is about letting go and holding on. Jesus speaks of the Sign of Jonah, the reluctant prophet who resisted going to his enemies to preach repentance. He let go of hope. He needed to let go of his expectations of who God loves, and hold on to a greater truth. When Jonah finally did as God asked, even the animals joined in repenting!  

Pope Francis reminds us that we give up on others, on ourselves, and even on God. But God never lets go of us. He wants to teach us how to juggle loss, sickness, and sorrow without dropping our faith. He wants to fill us with Easter joy. 

So what are you juggling this Lent? 

—Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ, is a retreat master, writer, and spiritual director at Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House in Barrington, Illinois. His daily video reflections can be viewed here.  

Prayer 

For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

—Psalm 51: 18-19