Forward Movement is an official, non-profit agency of the Episcopal Church whose mission is to create compelling content for Christian living. Since 1935 we have published the quarterly devotional Forward Day by Day, as well as pamphlets, booklets, and books that encourage and nourish people in their lives of prayer and faith.
WEDNESDAY, June 9 (Columba of Iona)
Matthew 16:1-12. No sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.
Jesus here expresses his impatience with those who want a sign. He is impatient because they are surrounded with signs--God's creative glory, his love, his word, his continuing presence--all the signs they could want or need.
Yet Jesus says the sign of Jonah will be given. The church has long taken this to mean his own resurrection after three days, but there is another possible meaning as well. Jonah's resurrection is clearly a sign. But so also is the whole saga of the Book of Jonah, which tells the story of the redemption of nations. In it, Ninevah is saved. Outsiders repent and receive God's mercy. Think of that "sign of Jonah" in terms of Jesus' saving act and the spread of the blessed company of all the faithful to the ends of the earth by means of it. Think of Jesus' Great Commission at the end of this gospel: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations."
If the Spirit of God should once again hover like a dove over the face of all the waters as it did at the creation, if God should then "become king over all the earth" (Zechariah 14:9), is that not the "sign of Jonah," and is that not what Jesus would desire? (1979)
PRAY for the Diocese of Derry and Raphoe (Armagh, Ireland)
Ps 72 * 119:73-96; Ecclesiastes 9:11-18; Galatians 5:1-15
View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.
Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com.
A Meditation for Pentecost
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Jesus knew the Pharisees and Sadduccess knew better, the 'adulterous and wicked generation, knew better. Yet, their hearts were hardened, they did not want to respond to hearing truth. It is the same now. How often do we want to ignore what is right! How often would we rather ignore convictions in our lives? How often do we fail to submit to the call to repentance of our sins? Jesus is calling us to himself and we should be like the people of Nineveh and not fail to act!