Understand How the Message of Jonah and the Message of Jesus are Connected

Understand How the Message of Jonah . . .

In today’s reading we have an example of the miraculous character of grace.

And we are also given an example of the human heart closing itself off to the same miraculous character. In the first reading (not included within this audio), we are told the story of Jonah, the reluctant prophet. He arrives in the great (and large) city of Nineveh. Nineveh was the capital of the ancient Assyrian empire (located in today’s northern Iraq). The people of this country are known for their ruthlessness.

This nation was a threat to all other nations. Jonah enters into this city. A capital famous for its wickedness and violence. Jonah, a lonely foreigner, goes to this city announcing forty days more and God will destroy this city. There is no reason . . . no logic . . . that his words will be accepted or effectively acted upon. There was no guarantee that he would even survive his journey across the city. Curiously there is a response. Hear more within the Homily.

The timing of this announcement is important. The Lord sends His messenger when the time is right, and the message will be most effective. Understand how the people respond to this messenger. Hear more about the story within the Homily.

Hear and understand how Lent has a similar characteristic. Lent, while it has forty days, does not involve our destruction at the end of the period. But it does contain a message. Hear more within the Homily.

. . . and the Message of Jesus are Connected

In the Gospel we hear Jesus’ preaching. He says that this generation is one of signs. Just as Jonah was a sign for the people of Nineveh, Jesus will be a sign to this generation.

In the story of Jonah, we understand that God has no interest in destroying the sinner. God desires the peoples’ change of hearts and their repentance. In the Gospel, we also hear that Jesus is here for the sinner. Jesus, unlike Jonah, is not a reluctant prophet. Jesus steps out of His glory to come to this world. He who is innocent stands before the wicked. Jesus says He stands before a wicked generation interested in signs.

Understand how the message of Jonah and the message of Jesus are connected. Listen more to this Homily. Hear more within this Meditation Media.