Daily Readings - Wed Mar 13 2019
Jonah
1And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying,2Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.3So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey.4And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.5So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.6For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.7And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water:8But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.9Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?10And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
Luke
29And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.30For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.31The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.32The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas 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.