Please read the passage before the homily:
The prophet Jonah wanted the evil and hated Ninevites dead completely. God, on the other hand, was all for accepting repentance from the Ninevites and giving them forgiveness. Jonah’s position was that he would rather be dead than allow the Ninevites to be forgiven.
What a contrast we have here. God’s prophets wanted people condemned, whereas God wants everybody to be saved. God’s prophet tried to run away, but al the pagans in the story, from sailors to citizens to the king himself, listened to the words of God.
God still wants all people to be saved. How can we preach fire and brimstone and expect to scare people into repentance? It should seem to work better if we were to preach how much God wants to forgive others all their sins, no matter how gross they may be. “You did such and such?” God would say, and answer, “I can forgive ten times worse things and I do forgive you.”
God has sent Jesus to forgive sins. The only reason a prophet has for mentioning sin is to call sinners to the God who wants to forgive sins. If you have done such and such, God welcomes sinners home without reproach.
Jonah did not understand this. He wanted the Ninevites dead, no matter what. He rejoiced when God catered to his desire for a cool spot to watch, but when the spot became over-stuffy and hot, he complained to God. Poor Jonah, always on the lookout for himself. Poor us, because we are often like Jonah. When will we learn that God’s way is always the way of forgiveness and welcome?