“Today’s first reading is one of the most hopeful stories in the Bible.
It is the story of Nineveh, a city known for its wickedness. A city with a bad reputation. A city that many people probably believed was already beyond saving.
And yet, this is the city God chooses to visit—not with fire, not with destruction, but with a call to conversion.
1. God Is a God of Second Chances
The reading begins with a very important line: “The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time.”
That one sentence already tells us something beautiful about God.
Jonah had already failed once. He had already run away. He had already said “no” to God. But God did not give up on him.
The Lord did not say, “Jonah, you failed. I’ll choose someone else.” Instead, God speaks again. God calls again. God gives another chance.
This is very important for us.
Some of us may feel we have failed too many times. We may feel tired of trying again. We may feel ashamed of our past decisions.
But today’s reading reminds us: God does not easily give up on people.
As long as we are alive, God is still speaking. As long as we can listen, conversion is still possible.
2. Conversion Begins When We Take God Seriously
Jonah enters Nineveh and preaches a very short message: “Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be destroyed.”
No long explanations. No dramatic gestures. Just a clear and honest warning. And surprisingly, the people listen.
The king steps down from his throne. The people fast. They put on sackcloth.They admit their wrongdoing.
Why? Because they took God seriously.
Real conversion always begins there.
Not when we justify ourselves.
Not when we blame others.
Not when we say, “Everyone is doing it anyway.”
Conversion begins when we stop defending our sins and start listening to God’s voice.
It is not enough to say, “Lord, you are merciful.”
We must also say, “Lord, I need to change.”
3. God Is Moved by Sincere Repentance
The reading ends with one of the most consoling lines in Scripture:
“God saw their actions… and He repented of the evil that He had threatened to do.”
God sees not just words, but actions.
God sees not just promises, but effort.
God sees not just fear, but sincerity.
This tells us something very important: God is not eager to punish. God is eager to forgive.
The destruction of Nineveh was not God’s desire. The conversion of Nineveh was.
And that is still true today.
God does not rejoice when sinners fall. God rejoices when sinners return.
Final Thoughts
The story of Nineveh is not just a story about a city long ago. It is a story about us.
God still speaks, warns, invites, and waits.
The question is not whether God is merciful. The question is whether we are willing to change.
Let us not delay conversion. Let us not take God’s patience for granted. Let us not wait until “tomorrow.”
Today, if we hear His voice, let us harden not our hearts.”