Wednesday of the First Week in Lent
Lectionary: 226
Lectionary: 226
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.
“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.
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.
Responsorial
Psalm51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19
R. (19b) A heart contrite and
humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
Verse Before
The GospelJL 2:12-13
Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart
for I am gracious and merciful.
return to me with your whole heart
for I am gracious and merciful.
GospelLK 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.”
“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.”
For the readings of the Optional Memorial
of Saint Casimir, please go here.
Meditation: The sign of
Jonah for an evil generation
: Do you pay careful
attention to warning signs? Many fatalities could be avoided if people paid
attention to such signs. When the religious leaders demanded a sign from Jesus,
he gave them a serious warning to avert spiritual disaster. It was
characteristic of the Jews that they demanded "signs" from God's
messengers to authenticate their claims.
God
warns us for our good - do you listen?
When the religious leaders pressed Jesus to give proof for his claims he says in so many words that he is God's sign and that they need no further evidence from heaven than his own person. The Ninevites recognized God's warning when Jonah spoke to them, and they repented. And the Queen of Sheba recognized God's wisdom in Solomon. Jonah was God's sign and his message was the message of a merciful God for the people of Nineveh.
When the religious leaders pressed Jesus to give proof for his claims he says in so many words that he is God's sign and that they need no further evidence from heaven than his own person. The Ninevites recognized God's warning when Jonah spoke to them, and they repented. And the Queen of Sheba recognized God's wisdom in Solomon. Jonah was God's sign and his message was the message of a merciful God for the people of Nineveh.
Unfortunately
the religious leaders were not content to accept the signs right before their
eyes. They had rejected the message of John the Baptist and now they reject
Jesus as God's Anointed One (Messiah) and they fail to
heed his message. Simeon had prophesied at Jesus' birth that he was destined
for the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be
opposed so that inner thoughts of many will be revealed (Luke
2:34-35). Jesus confirmed his message with many miracles in preparation for the
greatest sign of all - his resurrection on the third day.
Let
God's word of truth set you free from sin and ignorance
The Lord Jesus came to set us free from slavery to sin and hurtful desires. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit he pours his love into our hearts that we may understand his will for our lives and walk in his way of holiness. God searches our hearts, not to condemn us, but to show us where we need his saving grace and help. He calls us to seek him with true repentance, humility, and the honesty to see our sins for what they really are - a rejection of his love and will for our lives. God will transform us if we listen to his word and allow his Holy Spirit to work in our lives. Ask the Lord to renew your mind and to increase your thirst for his wisdom and truth.
The Lord Jesus came to set us free from slavery to sin and hurtful desires. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit he pours his love into our hearts that we may understand his will for our lives and walk in his way of holiness. God searches our hearts, not to condemn us, but to show us where we need his saving grace and help. He calls us to seek him with true repentance, humility, and the honesty to see our sins for what they really are - a rejection of his love and will for our lives. God will transform us if we listen to his word and allow his Holy Spirit to work in our lives. Ask the Lord to renew your mind and to increase your thirst for his wisdom and truth.
James
says that the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle,
open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or
insincerity (James 3:17). A double-minded person cannot receive this
kind of wisdom. The single of mind desire one thing alone - God's pleasure. God
wants us to delight in him and to know the freedom of his truth and love. Do
you thirst for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord (Hebrews
12:14)?
"Lord
Jesus, change my heart and fill me with your wisdom that I my love your ways.
Give me strength and courage to resist temptation and stubborn wilfulness that
I may truly desire to do what is pleasing to you."
A
Daily Quote for Lent: Don't
put off conversion - tomorrow may never come, by Augustine, Bishop of
Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"God
is not now so long-suffering in putting up with you that He will fail to be
just in punishing. Do not say then: 'Tomorrow I shall be converted, tomorrow I
shall please God, and all that I shall have done today and yesterday will be
forgiven me.' What you say is true: God has promised forgiveness if you turn
back to Him. But what He has not promised is that you will have tomorrow in
which to achieve your conversion." (excerpt from Commentary on
Psalm 144,11)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, LUKE 11:29-32
Lenten Weekday
(Jonah 3:1-10; Psalm 51)
Lenten Weekday
(Jonah 3:1-10; Psalm 51)
KEY VERSE: "This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah" (v. 29).
TO KNOW: When the people demanded a sign from Jesus as proof that his miracles were genuine, he accused them of lacking faith. He declared that the only sign he would give them would be the sign of Jonah's "death and resurrection" from the belly of a fish (Jonah 2). When Jonah was sent to preach to Nineveh in Assyria (Israel's enemy), the prophet was astonished when those pagan people repented and turned toward God (Jon 3:1-10). Jesus was a prophet greater than Jonah, yet the Gentiles were more receptive to his message than were his own people. Jesus noted that the Queen of Sheba had come from afar, offering gifts to learn the wisdom of King Solomon (1 Kgs 10:1-10). In contrast, Jesus, the wisdom of God, was spurned and rejected even though he came from God to offer them the gift of eternal life.
TO LOVE: Am I reluctant to speak God's words to unbelievers?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to repent of my sins and heed your words.
Optional Memorial of Saint Casimir
Casimir was a Fifteenth Century Polish prince and Grand Duke of Lithuania. Third in line for the throne, he lived a highly disciplined life, spending a great part of the night in prayer, and dedicating himself to lifelong celibacy. He had a great devotion to Mary, supported the poor, and lived a virtuous life amid the dissolute court. His father sent Casimir as head of an army to take over the throne of Hungary at the request of some nobles there. Casimir obeyed, even though he felt disobedient to his Heavenly Father. Casimir’s army was outnumbered, and his troops deserted because they were not paid. Casimir returned home, and was a conscientious objector from that time on. He returned to prayer and study, and maintained his decision to remain celibate even under pressure to marry the emperor's daughter. He died in 1484 in Lithuania of tuberculosis. Casimir was canonized in 1521. He is the patron saint of Poland and Lithuania.
Wednesday 4 March 2020
St Casimir
Jonah 3:1-10. A broken, humbled heart, O God, you will not spurn – Psalm 50(51):3-4, 12-13, 18-19. Luke 11:29-32.
Lord, uphold me with a willing spirit . . .
Jonah 3:1-10. A broken, humbled heart, O God, you will not spurn – Psalm 50(51):3-4, 12-13, 18-19. Luke 11:29-32.
Lord, uphold me with a willing spirit . . .
Jonah is portrayed to us as a very wilful person, but also one
who is very human. He was afraid to trust in his own power in achieving God’s
request. However, God persists with Jonah and despite a tempest at sea,
drowning and three days in the gut of a whale, God finally saves Nineveh from
destruction.
Like Jonah we are often scattered or distracted by perceived
trivial needs of our life. Is my body fit and nicely tanned? Do I have an ample
bank account? What about fighting for a promotion? If Jesus is central to our
disposition, these distractions fall away. Jesus supports a willing spirit
where one is empowered to engage in his mission of love.
Pray for a sharpened awareness that notices and deletes the
parts of my life that are not geared to being a useful instrument for Jesus’
saving work in our world.
Saint Casimir
Saint of the Day for March 4
(1458 – 1483)
 |
| Reliquary of Saint Casimir | Vilnius Cathedral | photo by Albertus teolog |
Saint Casimir’s Story
Casimir, born of kings and in line to be a king himself, was
filled with exceptional values and learning by a great teacher, John Dlugosz.
Even his critics could not say that his conscientious objection indicated
softness. As a teenager, Casimir lived a highly disciplined, even severe life,
sleeping on the ground, spending a great part of the night in prayer and
dedicating himself to lifelong celibacy.
When nobles in Hungary became dissatisfied with their king, they
prevailed upon Casimir’s father, the king of Poland, to send his son to take
over the country. Casimir obeyed his father, as many young men over the
centuries have obeyed their governments. The army he was supposed to lead was
clearly outnumbered by the “enemy”; some of his troops were deserting because
they were not paid. At the advice of his officers, Casimir decided to return
home.
His father was irked at the failure of his plans, and confined
his 15-year-old son for three months. The lad made up his mind never again to
become involved in the wars of his day, and no amount of persuasion could
change his mind. He returned to prayer and study, maintaining his decision to
remain celibate even under pressure to marry the emperor’s daughter.
He reigned briefly as king of Poland during his father’s
absence. He died of lung trouble at 25 while visiting Lithuania, of which he
was also Grand Duke. He was buried in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Reflection
For many years, Poland and Lithuania faded into the gray prison
on the other side of the Iron Curtain. Despite repression, the Poles and
Lithuanians remained firm in the faith which has become synonymous with their
name. Their youthful patron reminds us: Peace is not won by war; sometimes a
comfortable peace is not even won by virtue, but Christ’s peace can penetrate
every government repression of religion.
Saint Casimir is the Patron Saint of:
Lithuania
Poland
Russia
Poland
Russia
Lectio Divina: Luke 11:29-32
Lectio Divina
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
1) OPENING PRAYER
Forgiving, merciful God,
we pray to You for a good measure
of humility and honesty
to acknowledge before You and people
that we are weak and fallible men and women,
who often try to turn a blind eye
to our shortcomings and our sins.
Strong with the grace won in the hard way
by Your Son on the cross,
we beg You for the courage
to seek Your forgiveness
and to turn and return wholeheartedly to You
and to serve You and people.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
we pray to You for a good measure
of humility and honesty
to acknowledge before You and people
that we are weak and fallible men and women,
who often try to turn a blind eye
to our shortcomings and our sins.
Strong with the grace won in the hard way
by Your Son on the cross,
we beg You for the courage
to seek Your forgiveness
and to turn and return wholeheartedly to You
and to serve You and people.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
2) GOSPEL READING - LUKE 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.”
3) REFLECTION
We are in Lent. The Liturgy presents texts which can help us to
convert ourselves and to change our life. What helps more in conversion are the
facts of the history of the People of God. In today’s Gospel, Jesus presents
two episodes of the past: Jonah and the Queen of the South, and transforms this
into a mirror in such a way that one can discover God’s call to conversion.
Luke 11:29: The evil generation which asks for a sign. Jesus
calls the generation evil because it does not want to believe in Jesus and
continues to ask for signs which can indicate that Jesus has been sent by the
Father. But Jesus refuses to present these signs, because if they ask for a
sign it is because they do not believe. The only sign which will be given is
that of Jonah.
Luke 11:30: The sign of Jonah. The sign of Jonah has two
different aspects. The first one is what the text of Luke affirms in today’s
Gospel. Jonah was a sign, through his preaching, for the people of Nineveh.
Listening to Jonah, the people were converted. In the same way, the preaching
of Jesus was a sign for His people, but the people did not show any sign of
conversion. The other aspect is that which the Gospel of Matthew affirms when
he quotes the same episode: For as Jonah remained in the belly of the
sea-monster for three days and three nights, so will the Son of man be in the
heart of the earth for three days and three nights (Mt 12:40). When the fish
vomited Jonah into the dry land, he went to announce the Word of God to the
people of Nineveh. In the same way, after the death and resurrection on the
third day, the Good News will be announced to the people of Judah.
Luke 11:31: The Queen of the South. Following this, Jesus
recalls the story of the Queen of the South, who came from the ends of the
earth to meet Solomon, and to learn from his wisdom (cfr. I Kg 10:1-10). Twice
Jesus affirms: Look, there is something greater than Solomon here, and look,
there is something much greater than Jonah here .
A very important point in the discussion between Jesus and the
leaders of His people is the way in which Jesus and His enemies place
themselves before God. The Book of Jonah is a parable which criticizes the
mentality of those who wanted God only for the Jews. In the story of Jonah, the
pagans were converted listening to the preaching of Jonah and God accepts them
in His goodness and does not destroy the city. When Jonah sees that God accepts
the people of Nineveh and does not destroy the city Jonah became very
indignant. He fell into a rage. He prayed to the Lord: Lord, is not this what I
said would happen when I was still in my own country? That was why I first
tried to flee to Tarshish, since I knew You were a tender, compassionate God,
slow to anger, rich in faithful love, who relents about inflicting disaster. So
now, Lord, please take my life, for I might as well be dead as go on living!.
(Jon 4:1-3). For this reason, Jonah was a sign for the Jews of the time of
Jesus and it continues to be for us Christians. He wants for all to be
disciples (Mt 28:19), that is, that they be persons who, like Him, radiate and
announce the Good News of the love of God for all peoples (Mk 16:15).
4) PERSONAL QUESTIONS
Lent, the time for conversion. What has to change in the image
of God that I have? Am I like Jonah or like Jesus?
On what is my faith based, founded? In signs or in the Word of Jesus?
On what is my faith based, founded? In signs or in the Word of Jesus?
5) CONCLUDING PRAYER
God, create in me a clean heart,
renew within me a resolute spirit,
do not thrust me away from Your presence,
do not take away from me Your spirit of holiness. (Ps 51,10-11)
renew within me a resolute spirit,
do not thrust me away from Your presence,
do not take away from me Your spirit of holiness. (Ps 51,10-11)
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