Today’s readings:
Jonah 3:1-10
Psalm 51:3-19
Luke 11:29-32
What Jesus said about his time is very much applicable today, even more so. “This generation is an evil generation” (Lk 11:29b). Today the world is overwhelmed by a tsunami of evil, there is massive apostasy, there is the widespread culture of death, there is the rise of Satanism, the enemy is within the one true Church. Jonah called the Ninevites to repentance, Jesus called his generation to repentance, but who will call the people of God today to repentance? The shepherds and pastors of our Church have neglected their duty, no longer speaking prophetically, in fact condoning sin.
Jonah preached against Nineveh. “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” (Jon 3:4b). “The people of Nineveh believed God” (Jon 3:5a) and they repented. The king of Nineveh repented. The king proclaimed a fast and for everyone to repent, and they did. He said, “Who knows? God may again repent and turn from his blazing wrath, so that we will not perish.” (Jon 3:9). God did so. The people repented and turned away from evil; God repented and turned away from wrath.
Jonah and Jesus were signs to their generations. “Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.” (Lk 11:30). What is the sign for today’s perverse generation? The global pandemic? The collapse of the world economy? The many wars and insurrections raging in many countries? The deep divide among peoples—rich and poor, haves and have nots, conservatives and liberals, pro-life and pro-choice, nationalists and globalists, capitalists and socialists?
There is no way out of the deep pit except repentance. But there are lots of problems, which stand in the way of being led to repentance.
* People are no longer aware of sin. What is needed: “For I know my transgressions; my sin is always before me.” (Ps 51:5). Today Christians do not even know what is right and wrong. Or worse, what is right has become wrong, and what is wrong has become right. People live in sin and are misled and even coddled by their pastors.
* People are not conscious of their fallen nature and end up catering to their flesh. What is needed: “Behold, I was born in guilt, in sin my mother conceived me.” (Ps 51:7). We have original sin; we have a fallen nature. People today indulge and stoke the weakness of their flesh, giving free reign to sexual licentiousness.
* People no longer strive for purity and holiness. What is needed: “Cleanse me with hyssop, that I may be pure; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” (Ps 91:9). God intends for us to be holy and perfect, but we have preferred being blemished and impure.
* People have become proud in their human strength and achievements. What is needed: “My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a contrite, humbled heart, O God, you will not scorn.” (Ps 51:19). Pride is our downfall; humility is our way to being exalted by God.
What is to be done?
First, for those of us who know God, we must continue to repent of our own sin. “Have mercy on me, God, in accord with your merciful love; in your abundant compassion blot out my transgressions.” (Ps 51:3). We must desire to be purified and pure. “Thoroughly wash away my guilt; cleanse me with hyssop, that I may be pure” (Ps 51:4a,9a).
Second, even when we face seemingly blank walls, we must continue to speak prophetically and proclaim the gospel. “Lord, you will open my lips” (Ps 51:17a). Jonah was quite reluctant in his assigned task, but because he did what he was told to do, there was repentance for the whole city of Nineveh. We do God’s work. It is up to God to provide the fruit, in His way, in His time. We just need to obey. So we must help bring people to repentance and teach them God’s ways. “I will teach the wicked your ways, that sinners may return to you.” (Ps 51:15).
In a word, what are we to be? Holy warriors!
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