REFLECTIONS TODAY

 In the First Reading, Nineveh is described as an “awesomely great city” (v 3) not just for its enormous size and power, but for its enormous sins. The Assyrians had destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel (Samaria) and driven the people into exile. No wonder, Jonah expected God to destroy the city, but to his dismay God spared it after the inhabitants believed Jonah’s warning and turned from their evil way and repented. 

When Jesus is asked for a sign, a miracle that shows beyond doubt that he is the one sent from God, he points to them “the sign of Jonah” (v 29), how a people acknowledged their sinfulness and turned from their evil ways. God’s mercy is greater than the people’s sins, including those of pagan Ninevites. And the humility and repentance of the people there show us the right attitude towards the merciful God. Who are we to remain stubborn against God? 

Aren’t we ashamed that despite our sins against him, God does not make an account out of our willful arrogance? Instead, he embraces us with his mercy and love. Why? Because we are his children and not his slaves.

First Reading • Jon 3:1-10 

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. 

Gospel • Lk 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. 

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.”

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2025,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.