In today's gospel Christ considers the role of the "sign" in our coming to belief.  He implies that the miracles that he performs are of no value in this regard:  Jonah is seen here only as a prophet sent to the Ninevites to call for their reform, which God wondrously effected through him in spite of his reluctance, and the queen from the south appears only in seeking the wisdom of Solomon.  In this context Jesus himself is seen as God's herald on the basis of his message and the wisdom that it reveals.  Take this all in relation to what Jesus said in our Sunday gospel of two weeks ago, the gospel of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16):  they would not believe even "if a man return from the dead" and "they have Moses and the prophets."

What does that mean for us?  Maybe that God is not to be sought "out there," in special revelations and apparitions, as much as we are to recognize him anywhere and everywhere because we are familiar with his Spirit.  Maybe it means that we will only find him if we are earnest seekers, constantly praying to understand his will and to be able to leave anything behind in order to follow where he leads.  Or maybe that God is mostly found by us ordinary people in ordinary things; what matters is not what the setting is but where our hearts lead us in our search for God.  And if that is so, is there any experience, or gift, or acquaintance that can not be the basis for our prayer?