Let us ask ourselves are we still looking for signs and wonders that confirms that the Lord our God is real and present in our lives? It is sad then if that were the case, for it would mean that we are not already living in His presence today. Perhaps it is because we are in dire need to repent for our sins. To turn back to God fully so as to receive His mercy and grace. Then we will once again be living in His presence.
For there is no greater visible sign of God our Heavenly Father’s mercy and love then Jesus His only begotten Son who died on the cross for us. Knowing this truth we should be running with open arms, to embrace our Saviour fully who loved us so. How can we not share this knowledge with all so that they too might be saved!
If we cannot be like the virtuous St John the Baptist to prepare the way for our Lord, can we not at least be like Jonah? Who was stubborn at first but submitted to the Lord in obedience, and brought upon a great city; the Lord our God’s mercy and love. Amen
First reading
Jonah 3:1-10 ·
The Ninevites repent, and God spares them
The word of the Lord was addressed to Jonah: ‘Up!’ he said ‘Go to Nineveh, the great city, and preach to them as I told you to.’ Jonah set out and went to Nineveh in obedience to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was a city great beyond compare: it took three days to cross it. Jonah went on into the city, making a day’s journey. He preached in these words, ‘Only forty days more and Nineveh is going to be destroyed.’ And the people of Nineveh believed in God; they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least. The news reached the king of Nineveh, who rose from his throne, took off his robe, put on sackcloth and sat down in ashes. A proclamation was then promulgated throughout Nineveh, by decree of the king and his ministers, as follows: ‘Men and beasts, herds and flocks, are to taste nothing; they must not eat, they must not drink water. All are to put on sackcloth and call on God with all their might; and let everyone renounce his evil behaviour and the wicked things he has done. Who knows if God will not change his mind and relent, if he will not renounce his burning wrath, so that we do not perish?’ God saw their efforts to renounce their evil behaviour, and God relented: he did not inflict on them the disaster which he had threatened.
Gospel
Luke 11:29-32
As Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be a sign
The crowds got even bigger, and Jesus addressed them:
‘This is a wicked generation; it is asking for a sign. The only sign it will be given is the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. On Judgement day the Queen of the South will rise up with the men of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here. On Judgement day the men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation and condemn it, because when Jonah preached they repented; and there is something greater than Jonah here.’
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