Every year we hear this passage from the prophet Jonah on the first week of Lent, 7 days after Ash Wednesday. The repentance of the Ninevites is one of the most dramatic responses to the call to repentance in the entire old testament: a city of about 120,000 people all come to repent the nobility, the peasantry, show signs of their repentance by fasting, covering themselves with sackcloth, and sitting in ashes.
We begin Lent on Ash Wednesday doing the exact same thing—with fasting and the imposition of ashes on our foreheads. And throughout Lent we undertake practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving—visible and external signs of our internal sorrow for our sins.
Repentance is a pre-requisite for new spiritual life. In order to turn more fully to God we must turn away from what is disordered in our lives. That might be a disordered attachment to created things, disordered ways of speaking with people, or judging them in our minds. It might be disordered behaviors—where we spend our time selfishly indulging bodily pleasures.
The Christian is to always be about the business of turning away from disorder toward Christ. Yet, the way of perfection also include turning away from what is good, to what is better.
In the Gospel, Martha is busy about doing the housework. That’s great. Housework is good. However, her housework caused her to miss out on something better, something that her sister Mary chosen—the better part—giving her full attention to Jesus. Yes, there are times when we are called to do manual labor, housework, chores, our earthly business. But, we must not get so wrapped up in the things of the world, that we miss out on that something better—that someone better.
Now being mindful of Jesus while we do our earthly activities is also good. We can fulfill our earthly tasks contemplatively and meditatively—being mindful of God as we fold socks and cook dinner is good. But we cannot allow our earthly tasks to consume us—to the point where we are not praying as we should each day—in quantity and quality of prayer.
The Ninevites give us the sort of attitude we should have toward all of our earthly things—lavish repentance in order to focus, like Mary of Bethany—on what matters most—the divine will and presence of God—for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
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That hearing the call to repentance preached by the Church, all men may turn away from their sins to the mercy of Christ.
For peace in the Holy Land, an end to the violence and suffering, and healing for those whose lives have been tragically disrupted. May God’s peace the communities and families devastated by the horrors of terrorism and war.
That our young people may take seriously the missionary call of Christ, that they will turn away from the evils of our culture to spread the good news of Christ’s eternal kingdom.
For all whose lives are marked by suffering, may they come to know the healing and peace of Christ.
For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased clergy and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.
O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.
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