Jonah became a sign

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Isaiah 40:25-31 Psalm 103:1-4, 8, 10 Matthew 11:28-30

Matthew 11:30 For as Jonah became a sign to the men of Nin'eveh, so will the Son of man be to this generation.

The word "sign" is an interesting word that I think sometimes we may miss the full implications of. When we see that Jonah was three days and nights in the belly of the fish we rightly see a sign of the resurrection. But Jonah also preached that if the people did not repent they would be destroyed. This too is a sign. A sign is something that has authority. It is the root of the word signature. You could say a sign from God is something that has his signature on it. The message in concert with the miracle is the sign, or the authoritative work of God. God often uses miracles to give authority to his message. Jesus says that miracles would follow those who have true authority.
In this Advent season we look towards a miracle that comes with a message. We know Jesus is from God because he was born of a virgin. But Jesus preaches repentance and teaches love and mercy. The message goes with the miracle. You could say that God wraps his message with miracle wrapping paper.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to see the miracle has your authoritative sign but not to forget the message that is wrapped by the miracle.

Amen