The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to attend to the message that is in our environment that is calling us to contemplate the nudging of the Spirit on our journey of conversion.
The reading from the Book of Jonah describes the conversion of Nineveh.
* [3:5] Great and small: the contrast can refer to distinctions of social class (prominent citizens and the poor).
* [3:7–8] Fasting and wearing sackcloth are signs of human repentance; here they are legislated even for the animals—a humorous touch, perhaps anticipating 4:11.
* [3:9–10] Scripture frequently presents the Lord as repenting (or, changing his mind) of the evil that he threatens; e.g., Gn 6:6–7; Jer 18:8. (Jonah, CHAPTER 3, n.d.)
Psalm 51 is a prayer for Cleansing and Pardon.
* [Psalm 51] A lament, the most famous of the seven Penitential Psalms, prays for the removal of the personal and social disorders that sin has brought. The poem has two parts of approximately equal length: Ps 51:3–10 and Ps 51:11–19, and a conclusion in Ps 51:20–21. The two parts interlock by repetition of “blot out” in the first verse of each section (Ps 51:3, 11), of “wash (away)” just after the first verse of each section (Ps 51:4) and just before the last verse (Ps 51:9) of the first section, and of “heart,” “God,” and “spirit” in Ps 51:12, 19. The first part (Ps 51:3–10) asks deliverance from sin, not just a past act but its emotional, physical, and social consequences. The second part (Ps 51:11–19) seeks something more profound than wiping the slate clean: nearness to God, living by the spirit of God (Ps 51:12–13), like the relation between God and people described in Jer 31:33–34. Nearness to God brings joy and the authority to teach sinners (Ps 51:15–16). Such proclamation is better than offering sacrifice (Ps 51:17–19). The last two verses express the hope that God’s good will toward those who are cleansed and contrite will prompt him to look favorably on the acts of worship offered in the Jerusalem Temple (Ps 51:19 [20–21]). (Psalms, PSALM 51, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus explains the Sign of Jonah.
* [11:29–32] The “sign of Jonah” in Luke is the preaching of the need for repentance by a prophet who comes from afar. Cf. Mt 12:38–42 (and see notes there) where the “sign of Jonah” is interpreted by Jesus as his death and resurrection. (Luke, CHAPTER 11, n.d.)
Gladyce Janky comments that like the people of Jesus’ time, we experience challenges, setbacks, and frustrations. People and situations in our world make it difficult to “see and hear” that we are living in God’s Kingdom – just not the one at the end of time. It has been over two thousand years since Jesus promised to return, so we might ask When, Lord, when will you come again? We might experience doubts, causing us to wonder if we have the strength to persevere. Fortunately, Lent offers an opportunity for renewal.
During Lent, we can notice the longing deep within our souls by intentionally slowing our pace. We can connect with Jesus through sacred scripture, make a retreat, or spend time with one or more of our favorite saints. It is not the “what” that is important, but the desire (or praying for the desire) to come closer to Jesus that matters. If life is so hectic and it feels impossible to add “one more thing,” we can simply ask God each day to create a clean heart and steadfast spirit (Ps 51). No matter how we intend to grow our relationship with Jesus this Lent, God will accept our gift and joyously accompany us into the morning of Easter. (Janky, 2024)
Don Schwager quotes “Don't put off conversion - tomorrow may never come,” by Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"God is not now so long-suffering in putting up with you that He will fail to be just in punishing. Do not say then: 'Tomorrow I shall be converted, tomorrow I shall please God, and all that I shall have done today and yesterday will be forgiven me.' What you say is true: God has promised forgiveness if you turn back to Him. But what He has not promised is that you will have tomorrow in which to achieve your conversion." (excerpt from Commentary on Psalm 144,11) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Jonah 3:1-10 comments that Lent is our time to emulate the people of Nineveh. It’s our opportunity to “believe God” (see Jonah 3:5) and embrace the call to deeper repentance and faith. On a concrete level, this means actively listening for the prophetic voices in our own surroundings. And like the people of Nineveh, we might hear God speaking to us through unexpected people or in unlikely places. It doesn’t have to be in a church, and it doesn’t have to come from our parish priest. God can use anyone or anything to get through to us: a television show, a chance encounter, a bumper sticker. Even someone you’d least expect can bring you God’s message.
But remember: just because Lent is a penitential season, it doesn’t mean that God only wants to speak to you about sin! He sent Jonah to the Ninevites out of abundant love, not out of a desire to punish. In fact, the more you keep your heart open to the Lord, the more you’ll be able to detect the love and compassion in any message God sends you. You won’t need the “gut check” of a tragedy to draw you back to him—because you’ll already be close to his heart!
“Lord, open my ears, my eyes, and my heart! Help me to hear your prophetic word, believe in you, and love you even more.” (Meditation on Jonah 3:1-10, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler discusses the reluctance of Jonah to go to preach repentance to the Ninevites as they had been cruel enemies of northern Israel. The people of Jesus’ time ask for a sign to prove analytically that Jesus is the Messiah. Friar Jude reminds us that Jesus was present as Wisdom Incarnate in the Hebrew Testament.
Barbara Holmes shares how contemplative times of stillness and quiet are an integral part of the spiritual journey. She comments that when we get to the halfway point in our lives, we begin to realize that all the things that we have accumulated don’t mean a whole lot. We can’t take them with us when we die. As we age, we begin to take into account what really matters in life. Things like family, relationships, love, commitment, and service to others are what matters. When we start focusing on those things, it no longer becomes just a church phrase to say or something to do. Working with others really warms our hearts. Leading with love changes who we are.
The journey is absolutely sacred because we are not just flesh and blood. We are also spirit beings. And what other kind of journey could a spirit being take except for a spiritual journey?… I’m on the other side of fifty now, and all of my priorities have shifted. The ambition and all of the things that I was striving for don’t make a lot of sense at this point. The fulfillment comes in doing what you are led to do. In the Christian tradition, the Holy Spirit is supposed to lead you into all truth. I see the Holy Spirit as a guiding light—we’re walking by the path and there’s a lamp unto our feet that helps us to know what to do, how to do it, and to be still.
This is where contemplation comes in. It is impossible to shift priorities if we are in a constant, busy, frenetic lifestyle. There has to be that pause, that breath, that waiting, that willingness to be still until we know. Be still and know—but the stillness doesn’t immediately lead to knowing. At first, we have to be still, and then we have to be patient until the knowing comes about. (Holmes, 2024)
We ponder the signs in our life that invite us to deeper fullness of life in accepting the change of heart that brings us closer to God and our neighbours.
References
Holmes, B. (2024, February 21). Shifting Priorities — Center for Action and Contemplation. CAC Daily Meditations. Retrieved February 21, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/shifting-priorities/
Janky, G. (2024, February 20). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved February 21, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/022124.html
Jonah, CHAPTER 3. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 21, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jonah/3?1
Luke, CHAPTER 11. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 21, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/11?29
Meditation on Jonah 3:1-10. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved February 21, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/02/21/899580/
Psalms, PSALM 51. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 21, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/51?3
Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Sign of Jonah for an Evil Generation. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 21, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=feb21
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