Hoping for God's Mercy

The prophet Jonah reluctantly went to Nineveh to tell the people that their city would be destroyed in 40 days.  When the people heard of this they immediately experienced a conversion of heart, and "the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth" (Jonah 3:5).  Do you think Jonah expected this?  I think Jonah was sort of expecting the people to not care and so people could know the impact and effect of their sins.  But, the people immediately repented and begged for God's mercy.  Later on we are told that the king found out about this news and then he himself "rose from his throne, laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth , and sat in ashes" (Jonah 3:6).  I find it interesting how the prophet went first to the people and then later the king found out.  In the same way Jesus was seen first by the shepherds and the lowly, and then the Magi came to see Him and others came to know about Him later. The poor and lowly have always been the priority and should always be for they are the treasure of God and of the Church.  Jesus sat with sinners and tax collectors, not with the righteous and the wealthy.  "Whatever you do to the least of my people, you do unto me."

When the time came, God relented and did not destroy the city.  God seeks our repentance more than destruction.  Jesus came to find the lost and to call the sinner.  When we return to God, He welcomes us and embraces us.  We can hope for God's mercy because this hope is not a wishful thinking, it is the hope in what has been won already - our salvation. We dare to hope because Jesus came and suffered for us.  We dare to hope because Jesus triumphed over death and evil.  We dare to hope to draw close to God because He has first drawn near to us by His Incarnation.  Hope in God's mercy, He's waiting to extend it to you.

Father, give me the desire to return to You with my whole heart so that I may experience Your mercy and love and the faith to know that my hope will not be in vain.
Repentance of Nineveh by John Martin

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