bloody mercy
"Nineveh is destroyed; who can pity her?" —Nahum 3:7
Bad news for the Ninevites was good news for the Israelites. Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria, was accurately described as "the bloody city, all lies, full of plunder, whose looting never stops!" (Na 3:1) Nineveh was notorious for "the many slain, the heaping corpses, the endless bodies to stumble upon!" (Na 3:3) The day of Nineveh's destruction would be celebrated by Israel.
By reading Nahum's prophecy, we can understand why Jonah refused to accept God's call to preach repentance to the Ninevites (Jon 1:2-3). Jonah wasn't afraid his message would not be accepted, but that it would. Then the bloody Ninevites would not be destroyed and go to hell as they deserved, but be forgiven and spared (Jon 4:1-3).
We can see why Jonah was so vengeful. For example, if a person raped and murdered your daughter, then repented, escaped hell, and received eternal happiness by the mercy of Jesus, how would you react? Would you feel the vengeance of Jonah and of the prodigal son's older brother? (Lk 15:28)
The Lord is much more merciful than we are. He will love and forgive even the most brutal and bloody of nations and people. Will you decide today to receive the grace to do the same? "Blest are they who show mercy; mercy shall be theirs" (Mt 5:7).
Prayer: Lord, have mercy on me. Through me, have mercy on my most vicious enemy.
Promise: "Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." —Mt 16:24-25
Praise: St. Dominic dedicated his life to living for the truths of the Faith. He prayed for the worst heretics of his time and brought them back to the truth.
Reference: (Is America the new Nineveh? America has received a call to repent! Hear it and spread it by attending our Gospel of Life retreat Sept. 26 & 27. Call 513-373-2397 to register.)
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 25, 2008
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