Daily Catholic Mass Readings for March 13, 2019
First Reading: Jonah 3.1-10
1Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying,2"Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you."3So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days' journey in breadth.4Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And he called out, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!"5And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.6The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.7And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, "By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water,8but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.9Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish."10When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.
Psalm 51
1Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.2Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!3For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.4Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.5Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.6Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.8Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.9Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.10Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.11Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.12Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.13Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.15O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.16For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.18Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem;19then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Gospel: Luke 11.29-32
29When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, "This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.30For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.31The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.32The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of repentance, mercy, and faith. In the first reading, Jonah is called by God to preach to the people of Nineveh, a city known for its wickedness. Jonah’s message is simple and direct: "Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed." Yet, the people of Nineveh, from the greatest to the least, respond with faith. They fast, put on sackcloth, and cry out to God for mercy. Their repentance moves God to spare the city, showing His compassion and willingness to forgive those who turn from their sins. This story highlights the power of repentance and God’s infinite mercy.
In the Gospel, Jesus draws a parallel between the people of Nineveh and His own generation. He notes that while the Ninevites repented at the preaching of Jonah, His generation seeks a sign, refusing to believe even though "more than Jonah is here." Jesus emphasizes that the Queen of the South and the people of Nineveh will rise at the judgment to condemn His generation because they failed to recognize the greater wisdom and sign in their midst. This passage challenges us to examine our own response to God’s call. Are we open to the signs and teachings we have been given, or do we stubbornly resist them?
These readings call us to reflect on our own lives. Like the people of Nineveh, we are called to repentance and conversion. God is always ready to forgive and show mercy, but we must be willing to turn away from sin and toward Him. Let us not be like the generation that rejected Jesus, but rather let us embrace the grace and wisdom He offers. May we, like the Ninevites, respond with faith and humility, trusting in God’s love and mercy.