Wednesday of 1st Week of Lent: reflection
LET’S APPROACH HIM WITH REPENTANT HEARTS.
Reading: Jonah 3:1–10
In the season of Lent, the Church intensifies her invitation to us, her children, to understand the immensity of the mercy of our God and to approach Him with repentant hearts. In a special way, she reveals to us what this God can do for us anytime we make true return to Him. Through many parables, especially that of the prodigal son, the gospels illustrated how God promptly responds whenever the sinner makes a journey back to Him. God’s willingness to accept a repentant sinner and restore what he had lost was further evidenced by the pardon and promise of a place in paradise given to the repentant thief on the cross by Jesus.
The first reading of today, with a story from the Old Testament, showed us what God expects from sinners who heard His word and what this God can do for sinners who respond positively the His words. Jonah announced to the Ninevites who had been marked for destruction because of their evil ways that they will be will be no more after 40 days. The people of Nineveh responded swiftly and positively to the message of Jonah by proclaiming a fast and by making contrition for their sins. When God saw how they repented of their sins, He immediately forgave them and cancelled the judgement He passed on them.
Lent is a time for us to open our hearts, accept God’s call for repentance and, with prayers, fasting and contrition, swiftly come out of our sins so that God will cancel any judgment He has passed on us. Just as God gave last warning to the people of Nineveh through Jonah, the messages of repentance of this year’s Lent may be that last warning He is giving to many people before he strikes. What are you still waiting for? What is it that is keeping you glued to that sinful life? Rise from your sins and make your journey towards God with prayers, fasting and repentant heart, He is already waiting for you with opened arms.
May your Wednesday be richly blessed.
Fr Isaac Chima
Come to me with repentant heart