Word to the Wise
Wednesday, February 21, 2018 - 1st Week of Lent - Wed
[Jonah 3:1-10 and Luke 11:29-32]WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2018 WEDNESDAY IN THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT [Jonah 3:1-10 and Luke 11:29-32] 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." What most people remember about Jonah is his being swallowed by a "whale." Indeed the whale was interpreted in the Gospel According to Matthew as a prediction of Jesus' tomb and resurrection. But repentance is the main emphasis here. Jonah preached repentance to the Ninevites and they responded well to his preaching. Jesus was experiencing rejection of his call to repentance. The crowds were looking for some spectacular sign but Jesus did not come to be a magician or wonder-worker. Repentance is difficult and there is no easy way out. Parents and other authority figures know from experience that telling someone "to change your way of living" is to invite resistance! Lent is an annual call to repentance and if all it inspires in us is to "give up" something for 40 days (Sundays excluded!), one wonders what kind of repentance is taking place! If we take advantage of the season to approach the Sacrament of Reconciliation but fail to share the forgiveness we receive, Lent remains a private affair. One other feature of Jonah's story bears mention. HIs reluctance to call others to repentance is what got him in trouble with God and the whale. We are all called to repent, but we are also called, as Jesus and Jonah show us, to proclaim repentance. This is the tough side of Lent and there's no easy way out. AMEN
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