Lessons from Jonah: Repentance and Forgiveness

Greetings on this the Wednesday of the First Week in Lent
Readings: Jonah 3:1-10; Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19; Luke 11:29-32

Summary – Our need as person and society

Our Psalmist sets the stage for understanding the Old Testament and Gospel portions today.

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.

A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.

For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

The great city of Nineveh – the capital of the Assyrian empire

Jonah (and his famous fish belly encounter) was in no mood to preach repentance to this city. The capitol city of the archenemy of the people. His attitude is due to a well documented defeat and occupation of a most brutal form. Nevertheless the Lord demands of his followers to teach and preach repentance. And more directly for today.

We each, person and society, need to be a forgiving people. It is not a trivial almost casual thought in our modern age. A slogan, at best. We are tempted to discount, disregard and dispute with the Lord any necessity to forgive. Even go so far as to demand a sign. Today more than ever the greatest resistance to holiness is our demand for a sign.

While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them,
"This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it,
except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,
so will the Son of Man be to this generation.

Judgment is the penalty

It is most revealing that the words of Jesus show the depths of the need to repent, much like the people of Nineveh and only hinted at for Jonah’s response.

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."

Understand the conversion wasn’t a conversion of one religion for another but one way of thinking and action to another. Honesty before God and right relation among men. This is at the level of person and society.

Personal Reflection

As we continue our Lent observance, may we repent. Repent in the (1) first case of doing wrong (Nineveh) and in the (2) second case of not forgiving (Jonah).

There is NO AVOIDING the requirement to forgive. The sign is self-evident. Without forgiveness we ARE the ultimate destructive force.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031225.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry