Daily Readings - Wed Feb 24 2021
Jonah
1Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time:2"Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you."3Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very important city-a visit required three days.4On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned."5The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.6When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust.7Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: "By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink.8But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence.9Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish."10When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.
Luke
29As the crowds increased, Jesus said, "This is a wicked generation. It asks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.30For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation.31The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here.32The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages about repentance and faith. The first reading from Jonah recounts how the prophet Jonah, after initial reluctance, preached to the people of Nineveh, urging them to repent. The Ninevites, from the king to the lowest citizen, responded swiftly with fasting and sackcloth, demonstrating their sincerity. This swift repentance moved God to spare the city, showcasing the transformative power of genuine remorse.
In the Gospel, Jesus addresses a crowd seeking signs, referencing Jonah's experience. He highlights that while Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, He Himself is an even greater sign to the current generation. Jesus also mentions the queen of the South, who traveled far to hear Solomon's wisdom, contrasting her eagerness with the crowd's reluctance to recognize God's presence among them. Jesus emphasizes that the Ninevites and the queen will judge this generation for its failure to repent despite the greater sign of His presence.
These readings remind us of the importance of responding to God's call without waiting for signs. Like the Ninevites, we should be quick to repent and open to God's message. In our daily lives, this means being attentive to God's voice, whether through scripture, prayer, or the teachings of the Church. Let us embrace a spirit of repentance and faith, trusting in God's mercy and grace. May we not require miracles to believe, but instead, may our hearts be receptive to the divine call, leading us to a life of purpose and holiness.