Immersed in Christ: February 24, 2021
Wednesday of the First Week of Lent
Jonah 3:1-10; Psalm 51; Luke 11:29-32
The Father Of Mercies
Return to me with your whole heart, for I am kind and merciful. Joel 2:12 (Gospel Acclamation)
When God saw that at Jonah’s preaching the Ninevites “turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil he had threatened to do to them.”
But it was God who sent Jonah to Nineveh in the first place! “I do not want sinners to die, but to change their ways, and live!” (Ezekiel 18:23).
In sending Jesus, the Father showed more mercy than he did by sending Jonah. “The people of Nineveh… repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here!” (Matthew 12:41).
The Father sent Jesus: that we might “have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).
Knowing the Father loved him because he wanted to give us life strengthened Jesus in his passion. “For this reason, the Father loves me, because I lay down my life” for the sheep” (John 10:17).
Because life is what the Father is all about, Jesus taught us to call God “Father.”
If we really knew the Father’s heart, our relationship with him, instead of causing fear, would fill us with more confidence than anything we can imagine.
We can know the Father’s heart by knowing Jesus. “If you know me, you will know my Father also…”
ACTION: Measure all fears against the Father’s love as Jesus taught it.
PRAYER: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Father of mercies and God of all consolation!” (2Corinthians 1:3).