“There is something greater than Jonah here” – Reflection by Kolbe Peloquin

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,
and there is something greater than Jonah here.”

-Luke 11:29-32

In the Gospel passage today, we can more clearly see our need for Christ and the great love He has for us. God sends Jonah to the Ninevites and, despite their many sins, they repent and turn to God. In the Israelite kingdom, God used Solomon to bring the “Queen of the South” to belief in Him. In the Gospel, God sends his only Son to bring us to Himself. Jesus is greater than Jonah. Jesus is greater than Solomon. But despite the greatness of the Son of God, the crowds somehow refuse to listen to Him. Not only do they refuse to listen, but on Good Friday they will condemn Him to death. Are we any different from the people of ancient Palestine? Finally, it is by the crucifixion and resurrection of our savior that we accept and believe in Him. Thank you God for loving us despite the hardness of our hearts.   

Kolbe Peloquin is a freshman studying for the Diocese of Wichita in Kansas.