Just in two verses of the Gospel, we read four times the word "sign". The scribes and Pharisees ask Jesus for a sign, which will confirm that He was the long-waited Messiah. John the Baptist too was keen to know if Jesus is the Messiah and had accredited his identity. His message and His miracles were in favour of the poor the sign that the Kingdom of God was amongst us. To the Pharisees, Jesus offers a countersign because they did not know how to read the work of God.

The countersign was the figure of Jonas who spent three days in the belly of the whale. Jonas had been sent by God to convert the city of Niniveh and moved by the preaching of the prophet the people of Niniveh did penance for their sins. Yet, when Jesus tried to win over the Pharisees and scribes, they would not accept His message.

Let us ask Jesus in our prayers to give us a clean heart so that we may see Him in the middle of our daily concerns. Let us ask Him for a clear mind free of prejudices so that we may understand other people better and avoid negative judgements.