Gospel (Lk 11,29-32) - At that time, while the crowds were gathering, Jesus began to say: «This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given to it, except the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah was a sign to those of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will also be a sign to this generation. On the day of judgment, the queen of the South will rise up against the men of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon. And behold, here is one greater than Solomon. On the day of judgment, the inhabitants of Nineveh will rise up against this generation and condemn it, because they converted at Jonah's preaching. And behold, here is one greater than Jonah."

The commentary on the Gospel by Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia

It is an ancient temptation to ask God for signs, perhaps to move what sometimes appears to us to be his silence, his indifference or, in any case, to have confirmation of his presence. Asking for a miracle or a sign from God is not contrary to evangelical logic. Jesus himself teaches us to ask for "good things" in prayer. However, faith, Jesus states in today's Gospel passage, does not depend on the prodigious gestures that we would like. Jesus speaks of the "sign" par excellence that the Lord has given for everyone which is "the sign of Jonah". The primitive community read these words in the light of the resurrection: "For just as Jonah remained three days and three nights in the belly of the fish, so the Son of Man will remain three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" (Mt 12.40) . The "sign" of Jonah is therefore the announcement of the central message of the Gospel, that is, the mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Just as the inhabitants of Nineveh were converted by listening to Jonah's preaching without him performing any miracle, so must it happen again today, with the difference that now someone has come who is "much more than Jonah". It is therefore a question of communicating to the world the resurrection of Jesus, which is the victory of good over evil, of life over death. This Gospel is far more precious than the wisdom of Solomon and far stronger than the preaching of Jonah. Yes, there is much more than Jonah here, the Gospel repeats to us today.