24 February 2021

When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. Then he had a proclamation made in Nineveh: ‘By the decree of the king and his nobles: No human being or animal, no herd or flock, shall taste anything. They shall not feed, nor shall they drink water. Human beings and animals shall be covered with sackcloth, and they shall cry mightily to God. All shall turn from their evil ways and from the violence that is in their hands. Who knows? God may relent and change his mind; he may turn from his fierce anger, so that we do not perish.’
Jonah 3:1-10, NRSV

The news that had reached the king of Nineveh was that his city would be destroyed in forty days time. This news had been delivered, rather reluctantly, by the prophet Jonah. When God had first instructed Jonah to go and warn the people of Nineveh, he had boarded a ship going in another direction. Jonah would have found it hard to understand why God was bothered with the fate of this gentile city and probably feared for his own safety in going there. However, God persisted and after Jonah’s survival for three days inside the belly of a sea creature, he was again instructed to go and warn the people of Nineveh. Their reaction was surprising to say the least. They heeded God’s warning and performed strict acts of penance. We are told that even the animals took part in this penance! This gentile city was more responsive to God’s word than the “Chosen People” always were, and they were indeed spared their fate.

• • Why do you think the city of Nineveh was spared?
  • What message could God’s mercy for Nineveh have for us today?

Give thanks for God’s mercy in your life – especially when you have not felt that you have deserved it.