A humble heart

Gospel LK 11:29-32

While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them,
“This generation is an evil generation;
it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it,
except the sign of Jonah. 
Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,
so will the Son of Man be to this generation.
At the judgment 
the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation 
and she will condemn them,
because she came from the ends of the earth
to hear the wisdom of Solomon,
and there is something greater than Solomon here. 
At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation
and condemn it,
because at the preaching of Jonah they repented,
and there is something greater than Jonah here.”

Not sure what to make of this reading all by itself.  But in the context of the first reading and Psalm for today, its meaning becomes a little more clear.  This verse in Psalm 51 says it all:

A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.

Yes, this is the beginning of Lent, a time of spiritual renewal that is facilitated by fasting, prayer, and almsgiving.  But these are a means to an end - they are not ends in themselves.  Without the "clean heart" that the  Psalmist talks about, all the fasting, praying, and giving is pointless.

I am at my best when I turn to God with a humble heart.  God knows what is on my heart and and He pours out his compassion on me.