Daily Catholic Mass Readings for March 9, 2022
First Reading: Jonah 3.1-10
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.
Psalm 51
1Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.9Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.13Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.15O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.16For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.18Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.19Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
Gospel: Luke 11.29-32
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
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.