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Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Repentance


The WORD today reminds me of the importance of repentance. 

As we get into the first week of Lent, we are again reminded of the importance of repentance. In the gospel, we see that Jesus appreciated the people of Nineveh for repenting at the preaching of Jonah. They listened, fasted, and repented. Eventually, they were spared. And in the first reading, we see that account – the people, led by their king, repented and turned from their evil ways because of Jonah’s warning. They were spared by God from the punishment intended for them. Even Jonah repented. The reading is taken from the third chapter of the book, and in the first chapter, God called him for the first time but Jonah did not listen. He ran away. Eventually he repented and listened when God called him for the second time. 

All sin and fall short of the glory of God. 

All of us sin, no matter how big or trivial the sin may be. God does not qualify, a sin is a sin, and whatever the degree is, it still hurts God. A sin still shows we love others and ourselves more than we love Him. However, as we see in the first reading, God is a very forgiving God. As long as he sees us turning away from sin and humbly repenting, he will forgive us. Just like he did with Jonah and the people of Nineveh. He will honor a heart that is sorry and repents. 

God wants us to change our ways and repent.

The psalmist tells us the attitude God wants from us – to have a humble and contrite heart. No matter how serious our sins are, God can and will forgive truly repentant people. That is how much God loves us. The people of Nineveh repented through Jonah’s warning. We have someone greater than Jonah. We have Jesus telling us to repent and change our ways. And especially in this season of Lent, he calls us to repent and change our ways. It is just up to us if we will obey and heed his call. 

What are the things in my life I should give up? Am I willing and ready to repent and change our ways? What prevents me from doing what God wants? What can I do starting now? 

May we see how sinful we are and how much we hurt God. May we humbly come to him for forgiveness, and allow his transforming love to penetrate our hearts to heal us from all the hurts and melt away evil in our lives.

Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to experience your love. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for my sins. Sorry for abusing or ignoring your love. Sorry for hurting you. I humbly come to you with a repentant heart, asking your forgiveness, and for your grace to help me live a life pleasing to you. Transform me with your love. Heal me and make me whole. Help me live in a way pleasing to you. Help me glorify you. As you do, use me to bring your love to others as well.  Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,
-g-

Ps
See related reflection:


February 24, 2021
1st Week of Lent - Wednesday; Blessed Josefa Naval Girbes

FIRST READING

The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: “Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and announce to it the message that I will tell you.” So Jonah made ready and went to Nineveh, according to the LORD’s bidding. Now Nineveh was an enormously large city; it took three days to go through it. Jonah began his journey through the city, and had gone but a single day’s walk announcing, “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed,” when the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth. 

When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in the ashes. Then he had this proclaimed throughout Nineveh, by decree of the king and his nobles: “Neither man nor beast, neither cattle nor sheep, shall taste anything; they shall not eat, nor shall they drink water. Man and beast shall be covered with sackcloth and call loudly to God; every man shall turn from his evil way and from the violence he has in hand. Who knows, God may relent and forgive, and withhold his blazing wrath, so that we shall not perish.” When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil that he had threatened to do to them; he did not carry it out.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

R. (19b) A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. 

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. 

R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. 

A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me. 

R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. 

For you are not pleased with sacrifices; should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it. My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL

Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart for I am gracious and merciful.

GOSPEL

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. At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here. At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.”Yeah 

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