Last year, on this same day, I wrote on the Sign of Jonah. You can find that here. For this year, I want to pull a running theme in the readings for today: Repentance.
The Gospel for today ties into the first reading with the theme of repentance. The Ninevites, despite their many sins, repent and do penance before God and are spared destruction. Our Lord calls the people of His time to that same repentance:
“This generation is an evil generation… At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah, they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.” Luke 11:29;32
The prophet Jonah, as we hear in the first reading, went to the Ninevites and preached to them, and, to their credit, they repented. But the generation that lives during the time of Christ is given no such credit. On the contrary, the words of Our Lord speak not to the repentance of the people but to their condemnation. The people of Nineveh are said to rise up on the day of judgment against the current generation and condemn them. Not because God seeks their destruction, but because they refuse to repent. God does not seek the destruction of a sinner.1 He desires their conversion and return to Him. This is why God sent the prophets like Jonah, and ultimately, why He sent His Son.
How much more crooked is this generation that we live in? Our sins have certainly multiplied since the time of Christ. If His time was full of those who would not repent, how many more are there today who will not repent?
The men of Nineveh will rise up in condemnation against our time as well. Lent is a season that reminds us of the necessity of repentance. Yes, God does not desire the destruction of the sinner, and His mercy is truly unfathomable. But, in order to bathe in the waters of the depths of His mercy, we must repent. Mercy presupposes repentance. The people of Nineveh would not have received the mercy of God had they not repented. Repentance is the necessary prerequisite.
Today’s Psalm tells us:
“A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.” Psalm 51
Let us take this phrase to heart this Lent. If we humble ourselves as the men of Nineveh and bring a heart of contrition to Our Most Merciful Lord, He will not reject us. Through the blood of His Son, Our God calls us back to Himself.
The prophet Joel reminds us:
“Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart for I am gracious and merciful.” Joel 2:12-13
God’s mercy is infinite. There is no sin that we could ever commit that He cannot forgive. The only sins that go unforgiven are the ones we refuse to ask forgiveness for. Lent is a beautiful time to return to the Sacrament of Confession if you haven’t been in a while. Return to Him, with your whole heart, no matter what sin you are carrying on your soul, for He is merciful.
Repent. Return to Him. Rest in His mercy.
Cf Ezekial 18:23.
Great as always! Thank you!!