The reading of the holy Gospel according to St. Matthew
At that time certain of the Scribes and Pharisees answered
him, saying, "Master, we would see a sign from thee." And so forth. 
Homily of St. Ambrose, Bishop
. . . the mystery of the Church, which is gathered
from all the ends of the earth—in the Ninevites through penance, and in the
Queen of the South through the desire of obtaining wisdom—to hear the words of
the peaceful Solomon. For the Church is truly a queen, whose kingdom is
undivided, rising up out of various and distant nations into one body.
Thus, that is an excellent figure of Christ and the Church;
however, this is greater, because before it was only in figure, but now it is
truly verified. In the former, Solomon is a type, but here Christ is present in
His body. The Church consists of two classes of people: those who know not how
to sin, and those who have ceased to sin. For penance wipes sin away and
knowledge guards against it.
Moreover, the sign of Jonas, as a figure of
the Lord's Passion, is also a testimony of the grave sins . . .. At the same time, we may see in these
words of our Lord a declaration of His power and a sign of His love. For by the
example of the Ninevites both the punishment is foretold and a way of escape is
pointed out.
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