May the Lord give you peace and health.
It is on 21st February 2024.
We reflect on Jonah 3:1-10 and Luke 11:29-32.
Our penance does impact God.
Refusing penance is declining the offer of God to be in the kingdom of God. The people of Nineveh listened to the preaching of Jonah and responded to it with penance.
God expects us to change during this special time of our personal conversion.
The responsorial Psalm prays, “A humbled, contrite heart, O God, you will not spurn.” (Ps.50:19).
The Gospel warns us to turn away from our sinful living and return to the Lord. Metanoia means a change of heart.
Lent is indeed a special time to consider changing our ways of thinking and doing. God loves us no matter how sinful we may be but God is not happy with our sins.
God cares for us even though we are sinners; God does not condone sins in us. Our penance establishes the right relationship with God. Let us be bold enough to approach the throne of mercy with our penance in person and in the community.
It is not about accelerated pious activities during the Lent that please God but what we do for the welfare of others and concrete activities that make the lives of others better. Our proof of repentance is our charity we do even amidst the most challenging and hard times like this.
It frustrates God when God’s people are not ready to leave their evil inclinations, and attachments to sins due to a cool and indifferent familiarity with God while those who are far from God are willing to return to the Lord willingly.
With God, there is so much mercy and forgiveness and so we need to look at things objectively and gratefully. Even though things look so bleak around us, we can all have the courage to see something good in others.
The ocean of mercy and forgiveness of God is larger than the sins. Hence, we need to humble ourselves to enjoy the blessings of God.
“There is something greater than Jonah here.” (Lk.11:32)
May God bless you and have a good day.