1st week in Lent, Wednesday – 1st March 2023 – Jonah 3,1-10; Lk 11,29-32
Stubborn Humanity
In the first reading, Jonah is sent to announce the destruction of the Ninevites because of the sinfulness of its leaders and the people. After spending three days in the belly of a great fish Jonah decides to forsake his path which took him away from doing the Lord’s will. He reluctantly agrees to do what God wants him to do. He begins to announce the destruction of Nineveh. During the first day of his three-day journey through Nineveh, the people and the ruler of Nineveh decide to turn away from their sinful ways and repent. The fear of destruction leads the Ninevites to beg God not to wipe them out and their land. In fact, God changes his heart and does not carry out the destruction planned for the city of Nineveh. However, Jonah wanted God to punish and destroy the Ninevites. The stormy times at sea and being in the belly of a large sea creature for three days made Jonah start to turn his heart to the Lord. Yet, Jonah still did not have his heart completely in line with the Lord. He did not care that the people of Nineveh repented and that they sought God’s forgiveness. He was angry because others might see him as a bad prophet, who announced destruction and God did not wipe the people away. Till the end, Jonah cared for his own image rather than God’s compassion.
