Wednesday, February 20, 2013

From the Back Pew: No More Armageddon!

Today I am writing from the back pew of St. John's Catholic Church in Madison, Alabama (my home) just before the start of our evening session of our Parish Lenten Mission...

Today's Readings

"A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me. " Psalm 51:12

The story of Jonah is certainly popular enough that I don't need to re-tell it, but remember that there's more to that story than just him living inside a whale. The real truth of the matter was that Jonah couldn't hide from God's desire to want him to change and become a man of His Word, so he could move others to do the same! Nineveh was most certainly the beneficiary of God's desire and Jonah's YES!

Christ came to do the same, and much more, as he recalled that "at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and [then said] there is something greater than Jonah here.” (Luke 11:32). Many of us share in the desire for a clean heart, and a strong spirit, and we never want to be far from God. Yet, we get a little lazy with all of our perks, thinking that we've got all that we need. Jesus the Christ, has come to the world and to you and me, to announce the Good News of God's love, calling us to real conversion. This is what Lent is truly about... Making the change!

Jonah made that sort of change, and then took on the task of helping God to change His world! We as Christians, are called to embrace this change of self, and make the same kind of proclamation to our world that needs God's love so desperately. Threats of Armageddon are not necessary, we need to simply share God's love!

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