Homily: Wednesday of the First Week of Ordinary Time

Wednesday of the First Week of Ordinary Time (Jonah 3:1-10) “Never to Late to Change”

Repent. We have a lot of repenting going on in the story of Jonah. There are numerous parties in the story who change their minds. A lot of different people reverse course. Some do this willingly. Others do it under duress.

First, we have the person of Jonah. Jonah does not want to go to Ninevah to preach repentance. He wants the Ninevites to be destroyed. The Babylonians were enemies of the Jews. Jonah runs from God’s call, but God brings him back in the belly of the whale and he then does what God wants him to do.

We have the king of Babylon who is said to be a sinner. He has oppressed whole nations. The king’s armies were known for their cruelty. They murdered, pillaged and made war. But the king repents in sack cloth and ashes.

We have the people of Ninevah. When Jonah walks through the city half heartedly preaching the people repent. The whole population throws themselves on the mercy of God.

Finally, we have God himself. God wants to destroy the Ninevites. He is ready to smite them but when he sees how the people repent God changes his mind much to the disappointment of Jonah.

What does all this repenting teach us about our life with God. Hopefully it is a reassuring sign that no matter what we have done that is sinful in our lives, God will show is mercy if we but have a change a heart. The message of the book of Jonah is that God is rich in mercy. We can depend on that. It is never too late to repent.

Reflection:

1.    Do I believe any sin is unforgivable? Which sin is that?

2.   Have I ever seen someone repent of the evil they have done? Who was that?

 Dear Parishioners,

             Tonight, we are having our first Wednesday night of Lenten devotions. We begin with confessions at 5 p.m. This will be followed by the Stations of the Cross at 5:30. After this will be a simple Soup supper in Culemans Hall. We will end the evening with a brief presentation on Eucharistic miracles.

            Come and join us this evening.

            Mary Our Lady of Sorrows pray for us,

            Fr. Mark