A WORD FOR TODAY FEBRUARY 24 2021

*A WORD FOR TODAY*

*A SINCERE CHANGE OF HEART WILL BRING US GOD'S MERCY

_"When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God repented of the evil which he had said he would do to them; and he did not do it."(Jonah 3:10)_

_*It is always difficult to be able to help someone who does not believe that he or she has committed any sin or has done anything wrong. The person claims self righteousness, but when you look deeply into the persons life you see insincerity and unfaithfulness.*_

_The story of the first reading of today is about the people of Nineveh who repented of their sins when they heard the preaching of Jonah. They called a fast for forty days, covered themselves with sackcloth, beginning from the king to the least in the city. They sincerely changed and God showed them mercy._

_*Their show of repentance was to the surprise of Jonah who was not willing to come to the city to warn them of the impending doom that will come to them if they failed to repent. He wanted to see them suffer for their evil deeds, but He never knew that God's word can move the most hardened heart to repentance.*_

_The people of Nineveh needed repentance as well as Jonah. His heart was bitter and he needed to change so as to show some love to someone who has fallen into sin and is finding it difficult to change. We must show some love to them, because it is not the intention of the Lord that a sinner should perish, rather, that he should turn from his evil ways and live._

_*If we fail to hear God's voice and change our ways in all sincerity, it will be very difficult for us to find mercy. God was moved by the actions of the people of Nineveh. They acknowledged their sins and made a sincere effort to change and when God saw it, He showed them mercy and they were saved.*_

_The forty days of lent should be for us a time to go down in humility through fasting and praying as the Ninevites did. It is a time for thorough self examination to acknowledge where we have fallen and then through fasting, prayer and almsgiving appease the heart of God and sincerely make amends for all our sins. No matter the gravity of your sin, if you can humble yourself and seek God's face, you will definitely find mercy in His sight._

_*There is no way you will look into your heart and you will not find sin. Do not make arguments about how it came to be, just humble yourself and acknowledge your sins and make a resolve to become better, then act on your resolve in all sincerity and you will change and God's mercy will come upon you. The word of the Lord is being preached to us everyday, we must receive it and change and we shall find mercy.*_

_Good morning dearest one. Smile😊as you do your work and do have a magnificent day. May Jesus give you the grace to change from your evil ways and live. Amen. *And may the Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.*_

*Meditation:* Jonah 3:1-10/Psalm 51:3-4,12-13,28-19/Luke 11:29-32

*Watch-Word:* A broken and a humbled heart, O God, you will not spurn.

*God is merciful, but if we fail to acknowledge that we are sinners, we may never find His mercy.*

(Wednesday of the first week of lent. Cycle B)