Wednesday of the First Week in Lent
Recently, a Catholic politician called a speech given by John F. Kennedy “radical,” so much so, that it made this presidential candidate sick. Politics aside the speech was radical, in that, Kennedy made clear that his faith did not take priority over the office of the President. Many people in his day feared that a Catholic President would take their orders from Rome. Kennedy wisely reminded the public that he believed in the principle of the separation of Church and State. The historical context and the public’s mistrust of the Church of Rome give us perspective as to the purpose of the speech.
Historical context is just one of many ways we can gain perspectives on speeches, people, and scripture. Without such details, a proper understanding of the truth is a lesson easily missed. Sometimes we are too close to the situation to see the big picture. Other times we are looking from such a distance that the details are obscure. Often, a balanced perspective is only achieved with the help of an event, a person or even a nudge from God.
Nineveh received such a nudge in the form of Jonah. What Jonah made clear was that their needed to be some serious changes in the peoples way of life. The harsh message caused such compunction (guilt) in the people of Nineveh that they dropped what they were doing and repented. Jonah’s nudge caused the people to turn away from their focus on self toward a focus on God. The people of Nineveh reset their relationship with God.
Lent is the time we reset our relationship with the Lord. Consider your now week old Lenten disciplines, have they caused you the opportunity to be less comfortable? Is your spirit more humble and aware of a hungering for God?
Lest we leap to conclusions, Lent is only a few days old, still if you have not entered fully into your Lenten practices, commit to do so this day. Today’s Gospel helps to nudge us toward this spirit of humility by reminding us that there is “something greater” here. Jesus our savior is greater than whatever idol we have built for ourselves.
"Lord form in us a humble and contrite heart, so that with a steadfast spirit we will worship You alone, who was, who is, and who always will be the something greater for which we thirst."
-Michael Montgomery