When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, ‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’ 25 But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, and the last condition of that person is worse than the first. 27 While he was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.” 28 He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.
29 While still more people gathered in the crowd, he 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. 30 Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 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. 32 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.
Jesus told the Jews that through his ministry the power of evil over Israel has been broken but if they did not accept the Kingdom of God inaugurated by him they will be in a worse position than before (cf. Jn. 9:41). A woman in the crowd praised Jesus’ mother and Jesus replied that his mother should be blessed not because she bore him but because she did God’s will, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word (Lk. 1:38).”
Jesus addressed the demand for a sign from the evil generation that rejected him, and made reference to Jonah who preached to the Ninevites (Jonah 3:1-5). The sign of Jonah was the pagan Ninevites repenting of their sins when they heard the power of God’s message through Jonah. The Queen of the South was the pagan Queen of Sheba who visited and praised Solomon for his wisdom and riches (1 Kings. 10), but Jesus surpasses the wisdom and power of Solomon. Gentiles heard the word of God and responded, but many of the house of Israel rejected God’s word and will be condemned at the Judgment (v. 32).
Almighty God, grant us the grace to never seek signs of your existence but like Mary, simply accept your will with patience and joy. In your mercy help us to hear Your word and act on it so that we may not be found wanting at the last judgment. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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