by Bishop Thomas Gumbleton
Pax Christi USA Teacher of Peace
As I mentioned in introducing the Gospel today, it seems to me that Jesus is quite frustrated. After all, he has been preaching the good news, proclaiming the message of God’s love. He’s been working signs, healing people, driving out spirits — evil spirits — going about everywhere doing good, and the scribes and the Pharisees, the religious leaders, demand of him a sign. “Prove who you are,” in a sense they are saying.
Jesus tells them, “Look back in your own history.” Jonah, that great prophet who went to Nineveh, preached for three days, even though he was very opposed to this mission that God had given to him, and discovered that the people would follow him, which they did, and they were converted. And Jesus says, “Someone” — talking about himself, of course — “greater than Jonah is here, and you won’t listen. You’re demanding more signs.”
Then Matthew goes on to cite how the queen of the south, the queen of Sheba, came to Solomon because he was world-renowned for his wisdom. These Jewish leaders knew this; they knew about Jonah, they knew about Solomon, and Jesus says, “There’s someone greater than Solomon here. Why can’t you listen?”…