RBWords

     Jonah makes two appearances in Jesus' preaching.  In the Gospel According to Matthew, Jesus refers to Jonah as a sign of his {Jesus'] future resurrection: "Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights." [Matt. 12:40].  The second mention takes place in today's gospel scripture from the Gospel According to Luke, and here the successful result of Jonah's preaching is mentioned.  What was that success?  The people heard Jonah and repented [much to Jonah's surprise, it should be admitted}.  Those who were hearing Jesus did not seem to think Jesus was anything other than a wonder-worker and kept demanding a "sign."  Jesus appeals to them to remember Jonah and repentance.

     When I was in initial formation to become a Dominican friar-priest, one of my fellow student brothers had a little sign on his door that said:  REPENT!*.  The asterisk (*) directed the eyes down to the bottom of the sign and to another line: "If you have already repented, kindly disregard this message!"  Repentance is not simply a single event, like going to confession (although it should include that)..  Repentance is not "guilt-relief."  Repentance is an orientation of one's whole life toward love of God and neighbor.  None of us can treat repentance as something that has happened in the past.  It is a lifelong effort.  It should not be confused with penance (which is one part of repentance).  If a change of heart and a firm resolution accompanied by action are missing, repentance may become just "guilt relief."  

     Lent offers us the opportunity to review the role of repentance in our lives.  Are we really listening to Jesus?  Can we call ourselves Christians if we "disregard his message?"  AMEN