(Jonah 3: 1-10 / Psalm 51: 3-4, 12-13, 18-19 / Luke 11: 29-32)
The amazing thing about both, the old testament reading and the gospel today are their leaders. The King of Nineveh and the Queen of the South (Bathsheba) both listened to what God had to say through the voice of his prophets. The only reason that is amazing is because many of the leaders in our own countries, do not listen to the voice of modern day prophets who speak God’s truth. The recent elections in the US clearly testify to the fact that many Catholics in the US have quit listening to their bishops. But, what’s done is done and we need to live with the consequences of it.
Today’s readings for mass clearly show that repentance is possible for an entire people, if they listen to God through his holy prophets. God has been merciful to our country so far, in spite of the millions of lives that have been lost to abortion in the United States, but this can not remain so for long. God will seek retribution if we do not stop this senseless loss of life in our country. May our leaders have the grace to follow the example of the King of Nineveh and his people, as well as the Queen of the South (Bathsheba) who visited King Solomon to learn from him. Neither of these great leaders achieved their greatness through their own merit, but by acknowledging they didn’t know everything and listened to someone who knew more than they did. They listened to the truth of God’s voice spoken through his holy prophets and through repentance, their people were saved. There has been recent, new scientific developments about how human life develops in it’s first hour of existence, that our leaders should take the time to listen to as well. But, can they hear the truth spoken through modern day prophets? Or are they distracted by other voices, other things?
Catholics in this day and age, can be distracted by the “signs and wonders” of the spiritual life too, though. Many devout Catholics chase after apparitions, miracles and private revelations, which are not bad things in and of themselves, but will become so if they ever replace Jesus Christ as the true center of their lives.
The true “sign” Jesus talks about in the gospel, is himself, because just like Jonah was in the belly of the whale for three days, Jesus would be buried in the earth for three days before rising from the dead. His resurrection is the greatest sign the world has ever known. The joy of Easter is in knowing that the Lord has conquered death and sin, once and for all. And if we repent of our sins, we can be confident that we too, shall live forever with the Lord in the kingdom of heaven.
Pope John Paul II once said “We are an Easter people, and hallelujah is our song.”
But…..not yet. Lent has just begun!
