Belly Of The Whale

Some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” He said to them in reply, “An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. 

At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and there is something greater than Jonah here. At the judgment the queen of the south will arise with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here.”  (Matthew 12:38-42)

We have been in the belly of the whale for well over a year.  That “whale” has been the coronavirus shutting out the light for many people – causing death and despair for thousands of families.  We now experience our release from that belly although the signs are not entirely good.   Foolish behavior and unwarranted fear of vaccinations – fear preached by some influential media outlets and figures – still exist giving the virus, or variants, opportunities to arise again.  Where is our wisdom of Solomon?  

We are not part of an “evil and unfaithful generation.”  We good and faithful do expect a sign that the world can recover from this pandemic that still rages in many places.  For many people, and nations, that sign is still around the corner and yet to be seen.

We men and women of “Nineveh” must act as Jesus, who was in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. We must all rise together and condemn the misjudgments of those who follow power-seeking, bad shepherds controlling our minds and hearts for their own political and financial gain at the expense of sheep who follow their ways.  For those still hesitating, get vaccinated!  Otherwise, we remain in the belly.

Deacon David Pierce