Wednesday of the First Week in Lent
If a person survives, a heart attack can be a wakeup call. As I chaplain I meet people whose hearts have stopped and been restarted. Not everyone reacts the same but much of the time people say their lives will be different. Recently, a patient reminded me how this profound awareness of their mortality changed things. The patient recalled to me their life before the experience and stated it lacked any real connection with God. Now that they were on the mend the remarked passionately, “from here forward I intend to have a relationship with Christ. My life will be different.”
Signs, of course, are usually extreme, nor are they always physical or external realities. Internally our body is constantly sending signals to the brain. When we feel pain, it is our body’s warning sign to us that something is not right. It might mean we have been injured or have an illness. Pain also occurs mentally when we feel isolated, wronged or when we have sinned. Signs many times come in the form of blessings. Blessings are being offered to us constantly in the form of God’s grace, it is a matter of us learning to recognize the blessings as signs.
In Nineveh, Jonah’s sign was recognized almost immediately. It was ironic that a people who struggling so deeply with sin could hear God’s challenge so clearly. Their pain must have been so great that they were at rock bottom and finally ready to hear God’s message. The people of Nineveh made real change from the grass roots up to its leadership. It was as if they said, “God we get it. We will change. We want to live!” Because of their radical repentance God spares the people of Nineveh.
Conversely in the gospel, Jesus admonishes the people as the ones who will not be spared because they have not seen the sign standing in their midst. Jesus’ challenge to the people of Israel is now our challenge. Jonah’s sign is our sign. It is the sign we received on Ash Wednesday: “Repent and believe in the Gospel.”
By now the fruits of our fasting or personal sacrifice are likely being felt tangibly. This sacrifice is likely creating an conflict about breaking the fast. Consider see this hunger or cravings as a message from the Lord. A sign that we are in control of our body, not our body over us. Be aware that God’s messages or messengers could be either external, internal or both. The message may indeed come from our own well formed conscience saying make the right choice. What are the messages God is sending us? Today, also reflect on how you are sending God the message that you have recognized Jonah’s sign.
"Merciful Lord, you made us to know, love and serve you with our whole heart, mind and soul. Open our eyes and ears so that we might recognize the signs and offer the whole of our being our belief in Jesus, who lives and reigns with You, One God now and forever. Amen!"
-Michael Montgomery