Wednesday of the First Week of Lent
February 24, 2021
Daily Reading from the USCCB: Jonah 3:1-10
Audio file
The Book of Jonah is the story of a reluctant prophet. God sends Jonah to preach repentance to the people of Nineveh. Jonah resists God’s will for as long as he can. He’s convinced that the pagan people of Nineveh don’t deserve a chance to repent.
Jonah finally does get around to proclaiming to the Ninevites that God is going to destroy their great city within 40 days. To Jonah’s surprise and disappointment the Ninevites repent of their sinfulness, and the city is spared. It’s as if God had changed his mind about punishing them.
God seems always willing to change his mind about punishment for those people who show even the least sign of repentance. God will not spurn a contrite and humble heart.
