Daily Mass: The lesson of the sign of Jonah

While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, "This generation is an evil generation.

It seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah.

Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.

At the judgment, the Queen of the South will rise with the men of this generation, and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here.

At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented.

But there is something greater than Jonah here." To seek a sign, and the only sign that will be given is the sign of Jonah.

Well, of course, we know the story of Jonah.

It's a great little book in the Old Testament, but Jonah's sent by God to preach a message of repentance.

At first, Jonah doesn't want to do it, and that doesn't go too well for him.

But when he finally carries out God's command, he preaches the message, and the people repent.

And because of their repentance, God spares the people of Nineveh.

The sign of Jonah, then, is a sign to repent.