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
