Wednesday of the First Week

Reflection

Why does the story of Jonah, a fictional fish tale with only a tenuous basis in historical fact, capture the imagination, and why does Jesus pick up on this story as a symbol of His own prophetic mission?

 

The story itself has several threads. At the start of the Book of Jonah, we don’t really know why Jonah runs from God’s call. Is he afraid to go to the “wicked” city? Does he fear for his life and his safety? We learn that God is persistent, and those who are called do not escape easily. In today’s first reading, Jonah experiences perhaps unexpected success. The people of Nineveh hear Jonah, and even the king removes his fine robes and sits among the ashes. What an image to ponder! Can we picture our political and business leaders taking off their pride and greed and sitting in the ashes, pondering how our society sins against the weak and the poor and lays waste to nature? Can we ponder our part in the sins of our society?

But there is more to Jonah’s story. When God relents and spares Nineveh, Jonah spits out the reason why he did not want to go: “I knew you were a tender, compassionate God, slow to anger, rich in faithful love, who relents about inflicting disaster.” And Jonah is angry that God has spared those he perceives to be enemies of Israel. Jonah has trouble accepting that God’s love includes all nations and people, not just the “chosen.” Can we truly accept that all people are chosen and loved by God, and our compassion must reach out to all?

In the passage from Matthew that parallels today’s Gospel reading from Luke, Jesus compares Jonah’s three days in the belly of the fish to His own coming time in the tomb. The Ninevites apparently believed Jonah because they understood his rescue as a sign from God. Jesus laments that His people will not believe, despite the more powerful sign of the Resurrection.

 

Prayer

Help us, Lord to be confident in the sign of your Resurrection; to understand that Your call to eternal life is for all people. Help us to answer the call You place in our hearts, and reach out with love and compassion to a world in need of healing and peace.

 Zsuzsanna Kádas, Professor of Mathematics

 

Scripture

First Reading: Jonah 3:1-10
Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19
Gospel: Luke 11:29-32

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website