Signs and Faith!

Monday, October 13, 2025

Rom 1:1-7; Lk 11:29-32

Today’s Gospel presents faith as an internal conviction that is independent of any validation through external signs.

The crowd keeps demanding signs from Jesus under the pretext of believing in him. Though Jesus had performed many miracles in their sight, they only wished to embarrass him by demanding more signs. 

Jesus is disappointed by their sceptical and testing behaviour that showed no sign of repentance. We need to understand that it is from their scepticism that they refuse to believe in Jesus, and not because of lack of evidence. 

By demanding more signs, the crowd treats Jesus as if proving his authority is his only work. They want to reduce Jesus to a miracle worker without believing in or acknowledging his divine sonship. Their harassing behaviour continues with no assurance of a change of their hearts. 

Jesus’ own contention is that miracles cannot sustain faith. Miracles, at best, can act as signs for beginners. But maturity in faith comes when we listen to God’s word and act on it.

The example of the biblical figures, namely, the prophet Jonah and the queen of the south, is given only to reiterate that faith does not depend on external signs. 

Though the Ninevites were bad, they did not require signs for their conversion. They did not see any miracles. They heard the warning from the prophet Jonah and turned to God.

Likewise, the queen of the south came to hear the wisdom of Solomon. The Gentile queen witnessed God-given wisdom in His emissary, King Solomon.

In Jesus’ view, Jonah and the queen of the south are proof that people do not need a sign to believe in God. Here, ‘Something greater than Jonah’ refers to Jesus himself, who is the Son of God whose greatness exceeds that of Jonah or Solomon. Yet, people put him to the test rather than believe in him. 

Jesus firmly believes that signs are no substitutes for faith. External signs may be a gateway for faith. But faith thrives through internal conviction rather than external validation. 

Let us pray that our faith in Jesus may grow through inner conviction and conversion. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar