Wednesday, March 9, 2022

SOMETHING GREATER

 SOMETHING GREATER
Meditation for Wednesday of the First Week of Lent
(Jonah 3:1-10; Lk 11:29-32)

How convenient to settle for something less! We desire greatness, but feel threatened by the road that leads there. We want good life, but we make friends with those who act otherwise. Still, we must keep striving because something greater is here.

Jesus was surrounded by miracle-seekers, who were blinded by their selfish pursuit of miracles. But Jesus was offering something more than their selfish desires, i.e. repentance, forgiveness and salvation. Jesus said to them, “The men of Nineveh will arise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.” Jonah was reluctant to go on his mission, but Jesus freely offered Himself for our salvation. Jonah spent three days in the belly of the fish, and Jesus was buried three days under the earth. While Nineveh was a great city of three days journey, Jonah only made a day’s journey, but Jesus says, ‘I am with you always’ (Mt 28:20). Jonah threatened the people with destruction, but Jesus offers a message of love, peace, forgiveness and eternal life, which He demonstrated with His compassion and miracles.

Indeed, it is an evil and unrepentant generation that seeks signs for itself, and by so doing, settle for less. That is why to habour sin is to settle for less! This season of lent offers us another opportunity to melt our hearts in contrition and repent of our sins. Through fasting, prayer and almsgiving we continue to strive for something greater as we draw closer to Jesus. We need such a humble contrite heart even more than the people of Nineveh, for we are destined for greater things in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Wednesday March 9th, 2022.
www.soundofsilence.ng
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

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