Wednesday March 4, 2009 Daily Reflections

Readings: Jonah 3: 1-10 Psalm 51 Luke 11: 29-32
Psalm Response: "A contrite heartand humbled, You will not spurn!"

After his experience of shipwreck and three days in the belly of the fish, a light went off in Jonah's head. God plans to give the Ninevites andother chance to repent. God instructs Jonah to preach a penance to them and he began the three day trek through this huge city.

"REPENT, MEND YOUR WAYS! OTHERWISE YOUR CITY WILL BE DESTROYED."

Assyria was one of the fiercestof the nations. Its warriorlike methods were henious. Not only did they use the weapons they designed to inflict massive destruction and death, they ignored the suffering iposed on their enemies with abandon.

So, Jonah felt his reluctence to offer them forgiveness was justified, they deserved God's retribution.

We ae much like Jonah. Isklam seems to justify terror and mayhem to those who perpetrate it. So, when our troops cause havoc and collateral damage to people and property, we try to justify our stand. It almost seems normal to us to want revenge when we are attacked.
However, childfen are not our enemies. How can we think one child's lfe is precious and yet we support, by our silence, the disaster we foist upon them in the name of justice.

We should join our voices with David as he regrets his sins against innocence, purity of thought and, even murder. Knowing God forgives as we reciprocate, our first priority should beforgiveness of others to facilitate our own.
Our Gospel passage harkons back to the tale of Jonah and the repentence of Nineveh. The people seemed to insist on further proof of His claims by way of more miracles.

What had proceded, the many healings, the resurrections of the dead He wrought enough?

So, when their time comes, the pagan nations of Nineveh and the Queen of the South will be their judges. She believed Solomon, God's messenger, was from God and would be impartial in her mediation of their behavoior.