Daily Reflection Wednesday of the First Week of Lent

How often we hear at the beginning of the Lenten liturgical season, “So what are you giving up for Lent?” In lieu of that question, let’s take another perspective. Instead, why don’t we ask ourselves how we are deepening our relationship with God, ourselves and others in the two great commandments. In our first reading today, Jonah assumes his role as prophet and travels to Nineveh. He warns the people to examine their worship of God, their own lifestyles, and their interpersonal relationships. Let’s remember that when we were baptized, we too were called to be prophets. So, in which ways do we witness to God on a daily basis?
 
    When he speaks to us today in the gospel, Jesus instructs us to listen to Jonah’s warning of repentance. How we treat ourselves and one another is a reflection of how we love God. Always Jesus stands for the poor: the materially poor, the emotionally poor, and the spiritually poor. We have ample time during Lent to look deeply into our own hearts and evaluate our own poverty.
“Poor” is not just an economic term. There are individuals or groups of people that we may consider outcasts. Our own negative poverty might be our self-righteousness, our disparaging attitudes towards groups of people, or our own demeaning self-pity. Would Jesus consider these people outcasts?
Perhaps, we endorse businesses or political systems that keep segments of society in or below the poverty level. Jesus would demand us to investigate where we put our efforts and our money. 
 
    When we take time in prayer to look at ourselves in relation to Jesus and his actions with people, we realize that we have not only his words in the gospel, but the sacraments and the gift of grace. These Lenten days can be such a positive experience for us. Realizing that we are loved unconditionally by our God, we gradually change our own self-righteousness. 
 
    So, what do we learn from Jonah and his journey to Nineveh? There is a hidden goodness in all of us. Like the King, when we realize our need for repentance, we will change.
    
     Edwina Gateley expresses in poetry our desire not only to change what is negative within us, but also to learn to live the Divine in our lives.
 
Let Me
 
Let me walk with you
even if I must walk alone,
and in the dark.
 
Let me hear your whisper
even when my noise and clatter resounds
through day and dusk.
 
Let me be praying
even when my whole being flees restless
from your presence.
 
Let me be faithful
even when, afraid and helpless,
I want to go my way.
 
Oh God! Please
just let me learn
to be with you.