Jonah the reluctant prophet was called a second time and he obeyed God's instruction. He travelled to the great city of Nineveh to proclaim the message of repentance. Hearing the message, the King himself issued a decree that all subjects and beasts were to fast and abstain from engaging in activities that were detrimental to relationship with God and nature. All heard the warning of the great calamity that was to befall the city and its inhabitants. Only if they repented and rectified their ways of life would the wrath of God subside and the destructive calamity be evaded. Lo and behold, Jonah's message of repentance was faithfully heeded by the king and all his subjects. A change of attitude spared Nineveh, they renounced their wicked behavior and called on God.

Jesus compared the crowd with the inhabitants of Nineveh in the time of Prophet Jonah. The current generation is wicked because they will not change their way of life unless a sign from heaven befalls them. This unmasked their stubborn arrogance to say, "we are superior than you, give in to our demands then we submit." It is a deceitful demand because they are no superior than the people of Ninenveh. To them Jesus carries no urgency of repentance. Jesus warned them of Judgement Day, that those who submitted to God's command through the prophet Jonah would rise against those who refuted repentance. This Lent, will Jesus' words change our hearts?