Wednesday of the First Week in Lent

Today's Readings

The readings from today speak about ways people can find their way back to God. These readings are very relevant for today. Like Nineveh, New York City is a very large city where stealing, violence and evil exists.  In the first reading, Jonah began announcing to the people of Nineveh that the city would be destroyed in 40 days. There was a great outpouring of repentance, prayer and fasting by the entire population in hopes that God would forgive them and spare them. When God saw their genuine contrition God showed grace, mercy and did not destroy the city of Nineveh.  The takeaway is that God is a loving, forgiving God who wants us to do what is right, but it is also never too late to change our lives if we are not living as we should. 

 

In the Gospel, we can learn from the preaching of Jesus, who has provided a road map for salvation. Through Jesus' teachings he makes comparisons to Jonah and the people of Nineveh who made changes in their own lives to ensure salvation and refers to the "Queen of the South" who traveled far to learn from the wisdom of Solomon and changed her life. Jesus announces to the people of his time that Jonah and Solomon from the Old Testament are great prophets, but He is even greater, for he is the Son of God who has come to personally lead us to salvation.  If we follow in his ways, we won't go wrong. Jesus teaches us that we must choose to believe and follow God with our own free will and through faith, and not with an expectation or need to see a sign of God's love for proof.  

 

Lent is a good time to reflect on our lives an make the necessary changes to live in the fullness of God's love. Jesus' death and resurrection provided us with a path back to God. During our moments of prayer, fasting and repentance we receive moments of God's grace, knowing that when we return to God with our whole heart and soul, we will be welcomed by a God who is full of mercy and forgiveness. 

Dr. Mary O'Shea

Assistant Dean, Center for Learning and Leadership

St. Francis College