The Gospel of Luke
The Light of the Body: 11,29-36
The book of Jonah is a short and humorous tale so it is good to read the whole story. Matthew's reference to the sign of Jonah is the more familiar one of the three days in the belly of the whale (Mt 12,39-40). Luke by contrast focuses on the unexpected repentance "in sackcloth and ashes" (10,13) of the people of Nineveh (Jonah 3). Jesus is greater than Jonah and his preaching too calls for repentance.
The Queen of the South refers to the visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon (1 Kings 10,1-10). Jesus' wisdom is greater than Solomon's because he preached the word of God. We saw earlier, 11,28, the beatitude for those hearing the word.
The image of the lamp is here refered to the lamp of the body rather than the lamp of the word in 8,16. The need is for the openness of a body which is full of light. This is not evident in those who are seeking a sign from heaven (11,16), not the Holy Spirit (11,13).
Then looking ahead, there is the same need in the Pharisees who now invite Jesus to a meal.
Let us now return to the main page and so move on to Jesus' next encounter.