THE SIGN OF JONAH

INTRODUCTION
The title of my homily is, “The Sign of Jonah.”

In today’s gospel Jesus says, “This generation is seeking a sign, but the only sign they are going to get is, ‘The Sign of Jonah.’”

And in the first reading we have Jonah going through the city of Nineveh – and it takes him 3 days – and he’s announcing, “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed.”

It’s not by accident this reading was picked for Wednesday in the First week of Lent. Lent is 40 days – and the key 3 days are going to be at the end of Lent – when Jesus dies – and is buried in the earth and rises on the 3rd day – Easter.

It’s not by accident today’s gospel is chosen – with the message of Jonah and people looking for signs.

THOMAS MERTON

Every year on this day I think of Thomas Merton and his book, The Sign of Jonas [1953].

I remember reading that book – some 50 ago – and how wonderful it was to read – after reading Merton’s The Seven Storey Mountain [1948].

Merton saw himself as Jonas – having gone the other way like Jonas – yet God pursued him – and here he is in the belly of a monastery – in the dark of Trappist Life – in prayer – during the night – and early morning – hidden from the world he had been in.

It is early Merton – and what he discovered was the message of Lent – that the sign that Christ gave was the Sign of the Cross – but the cross is connected to his death and resurrection – Christ being buried in the belly of the earth for 3 days and then being spilled out on the beach of heaven – alive again – resurrection.

THIS SEASON OF LENT
So Lent is the 40 days and Lent is the 3 days at the End.

And Lent begins with the sign of the Cross “ashed” black on our forehead on Ash Wednesday - broadcasting that to live we must die and be buried to self – and to let others rise – and that Jesus rises out of our us by being grave.

We can do this daily in many ways: small and big – by serving others. Here are few specifics. We must have about 10 good meeting moments each day. Talk or listen! Listen or really listen. Listening can be a great way to get out of self and really hear another human being – and watch them rise and walk away. Someone listened to me today – actually listened to me. They asked me 3 follow up questions on something I said. Amazing. It’s great to be a human being. And each day we come to at least a dozen doors. What a great opportunity to let others to be first and myself to be last church doors, elevator doors – car doors – store doors.

We can die to self daily – by putting God first – hey here we are in church at the beginning of another day.

We do this in our life – but realizing that like Christ – death is at the end of the road – but death is not the end. The casket is not a locked box for all eternity.

That’s the sign Jesus gave us.

CONCLUSION
So listen carefully to the words of the Eucharistic Canon this morning – and notice the Sign of Jonah in the several mentions of the words of "death" and "resurrection".

I know you have to get to work – but I’ll try to slowly and boldly emphasize them this morning. Amen.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Homily for Wednesday, First Week of Lent, February 24, 2010. Readings: Jonah 3:1-10; Luke 11: 29-32

[The 3 paintings on top are by Verne Davis: 1) Jonah and the Whale (Overboard) 2009; 2) Jonah and the Whale - (In the Whale) 2009; 3) Jonah and the Whale (Beached) 2009 - all 3 paintings on line courtesy of Gavin Brown's Enterprise, New York, N.Y..