We have, in today’s Gospel-reading from Matthew, a biblical scrimmage between the visiting team of Jesus and the home team of the Pharisees. They kick off the contest by having Jesus receive their question-ball and so to see what He’ll do with it. Jesus runs right through their defense and with two scriptural references defeats them, but they will want to play similar games again.

They propose that Jesus show them a “sign” supporting His teachings and healings, revealing that He is the Prophet who is to come. They do not want conversion, but something with which to argue so they can continue having their authority and domestic power. Jesus knows their game-plan and speaks to them about two particular persons from their scriptural background. The Queen of Sheba comes to visit King Solomon to see if he is as full of wisdom as she has heard. She brings him great signs of wealth in recognition of her acceptance of his authority. She was not playing games; she was seeking wisdom for her own queenship. (1 Kings 1,1)

The second figure Jesus offers is Jonah who spent three days in the belly of the whale. Matthew inserts this as a quite confounding image of Jesus’ eventual Resurrection. He finishes their little game by announcing that when all the games are over, the queen of Sheba and Jonah and all who were changed by what they and their generations had seen and heard, will rise up and condemn these “sign-seekers” as ultimate losers.

It is a bit embarrassing to remember, and quite recently as well, the little games or deals I have made with God to make sure that faith is not so difficult. “If I do this and other that’s, then You will…”. “If only I could only understand something such as the unity of the humanity and divinity of Jesus then that would .” I would give up my games, for a while at least, if I could have a little visitation, a light in the dark, a word in the silence.

It is our nature to want to know and when we do, well, we want to know more. There is a Pharisee within us who rises up at certain times and kind of says that we want something! What we have is Jesus, not a sign, but a compassionate Inviter Who walked His road in faith having to trust as we are walking our own.

I enjoy praying with my games and not losing or being defeated, but encouraged to keep on keeping on.