Breaking the Word

1^st week in Lent, Thursday – 2^nd March 2023 – Esther 4,1.3-5.12-14; Mt 7,7-12

Prayer of Petition

The readings of today remind that we must lift up prayer to a loving and caring God who responds to those who ask for help. Esther, a Jewish woman and queen of King Ahasuerus of Persia, used her influence to avert a massacre of her people by the Persians. As she prepares to enter the presence of the king she seeks God’s wisdom and help. She risks her life on behalf of the people of her Jewish faith. She prays God to stretch His protecting hand over His people and to help her, particularly in the task she has to do.  She acknowledges her weakness and that, without God’s help, there is nothing she can do. She also reminds God of the divine promises made long ago to His chosen people, chosen as a “lasting heritage.” She asks of God to give her the correct words to speak to the king in order to save the Jews from annihilation by the king’s royal officers, who are very strongly anti-Jewish. In this simple prayer of petition, Esther expresses clearly that she and her people are totally in God’s hands. She does not threaten or try to manipulate God or bargain with him. She leaves the final outcome entirely to divine will.

1^st week in Lent, Wednesday – 1^st 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.