Wednesday of the First Week in Lent
(Jonah 3:1-10; Luke 11:29-32)
In his Confessions
St. Augustine relates how he had two mistresses. As he became aware of his call to holiness, he
knew that he had to let go of sexual desire.
Augustine begged God, “Give me chastity and continence, but not yet.” He made the break when he randomly read a
passage from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans: “…But put on the Lord Jesus
Christ, and make no provisions for the desires of the flesh.” The conversion was as dramatic as that of the
Ninevites after hearing the preaching of Jonah in today’s first reading.
The story of Jonah is more of a fable than real history. There is no record of a mass conversion in
Nineveh or even a city so large that it would take three days to
transverse. But the point is clear: people
are called to repent from sinful ways. In
the gospel Jesus laments that the people of his time refuse to repent with his
preaching. Even though he displays
wisdom greater than Solomon’s and virtue greater than Jonah’s was thought to
have been, people still do not respond favorably. They only seek a sign to prove his
legitimacy.
During Lent we are being called to give up sinful
ways. For some this means giving
Internet pornography a definitive “no.”
Others may have to stop lying or to become more attentive to the needs
of the poor. Yes, it is hard but we have
not only the incentive of eternal life but also the support of the whole
Church. Repentance, after all, is not a one
in a million need. Everyone is called to
it.
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