Daily Catholic Mass Readings for March 9, 2022
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
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful stories that invite us to reflect on repentance, humility, and the mercy of God. The first reading from Jonah recounts the prophet’s mission to Nineveh, a city steeped in sin. Despite Jonah’s initial reluctance, he obeys God’s call and preaches a message of repentance. The people of Nineveh, from the king to the lowest citizen, respond with profound humility, fasting, and sackcloth. Their conversion is so genuine that God spares the city from destruction. This story reminds us that no one is beyond the reach of God’s mercy, and that true repentance can lead to forgiveness and new life.
In the Gospel, Jesus draws a connection between Jonah’s mission and His own. He tells the crowd that just as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so too is the Son of Man a sign to this generation. Jesus emphasizes that the people of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah, and the queen of the South came from afar to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Yet, Jesus says, “more than Jonah is here” and “more than Solomon is here.” This is a call to recognize the greater wisdom and grace present in Jesus Himself. The people of Nineveh and the queen of the South will rise up at the judgment to condemn the current generation because they failed to recognize and respond to the greater sign in their midst.
These readings challenge us to examine our own response to God’s call. Like the people of Nineveh, we are called to humility and repentance. Like Jonah, we are called to trust in God’s mercy and to share His message with others. Jesus invites us to recognize the wisdom and grace that is present in our lives and to respond with openness and faith. Let us ask ourselves: Are we willing to let go of our sins and turn to God? Do we recognize the signs of God’s presence in our lives? May we, like the people of Nineveh, embrace repentance and experience the boundless mercy of God.