Reading 1
Jon 1:1-2:2, 11
This is the word of the LORD that came to Jonah, son of Amittai:
“Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and preach against it;their wickedness has come up before me.”But Jonah made ready to flee to Tarshish away from the LORD.He went down to Joppa, found a ship going to Tarshish,paid the fare, and went aboard to journey with them to Tarshish,away from the LORD.
The LORD, however, hurled a violent wind upon the sea,and in the furious tempest that arosethe ship was on the point of breaking up.Then the mariners became frightened and each one cried to his god.To lighten the ship for themselves, they threw its cargo into the sea.Meanwhile, Jonah had gone down into the hold of the ship,and lay there fast asleep.The captain came to him and said, “What are you doing asleep?Rise up, call upon your God!Perhaps God will be mindful of us so that we may not perish.”
Then they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lotsto find out on whose account we have met with this misfortune.”So they cast lots, and thus singled out Jonah.“Tell us,” they said, “what is your business?Where do you come from?What is your country, and to what people do you belong?”Jonah answered them, “I am a Hebrew,I worship the LORD, the God of heaven,who made the sea and the dry land.”
Now the men were seized with great fear and said to him,“How could you do such a thing!– They knew that he was fleeing from the LORD,because he had told them.–They asked, “What shall we do with you,that the sea may quiet down for us?”For the sea was growing more and more turbulent.Jonah said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,that it may quiet down for you;since I know it is because of methat this violent storm has come upon you.”
Still the men rowed hard to regain the land, but they could not,for the sea grew ever more turbulent.Then they cried to the LORD: “We beseech you, O LORD,let us not perish for taking this man’s life;do not charge us with shedding innocent blood,for you, LORD, have done as you saw fit.”Then they took Jonah and threw him into the sea,and the sea’s raging abated.Struck with great fear of the LORD,the men offered sacrifice and made vows to him.
But the LORD sent a large fish, that swallowed Jonah;and Jonah remained in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.From the belly of the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD, his God.Then the LORD commanded the fish to spew Jonah upon the shore.
Gospel
Lk 10:25-37
There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said,“Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law?How do you read it?”He said in reply,“You shall love the Lord, your God,with all your heart,with all your being,with all your strength,and with all your mind,and your neighbor as yourself.”He replied to him, “You have answered correctly;do this and you will live.”
But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbersas he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho.They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead.A priest happened to be going down that road,but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.Likewise a Levite came to the place,and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.But a Samaritan traveler who came upon himwas moved with compassion at the sight.He approached the victim,poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them.Then he lifted him up on his own animal,took him to an inn, and cared for him.The next day he took out two silver coinsand gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction,‘Take care of him.If you spend more than what I have given you,I shall repay you on my way back.’Which of these three, in your opinion,was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?”He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.”Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Meditation:
Jonah 1:1–2:2,11
Most everyone is familiar with Jonah simply because his claim to fame is so unusual.
There is no other character in the Bible who spends three days in the belly of a fish! But what is this story really about? We could easily see it as a tale of divine justice. Jonah disobeys God and gets what’s coming to him. He winds up in a very nasty place and finds no escape until he gives in. Perhaps it serves him right: After all, God did tell him to go preach to the people of Nineveh!
However, judging by the story’s outcome, it’s more likely that God is trying to help Jonah rather than hurt him—even if he does so in a rather humorous fashion! He sends a storm to Jonah’s ship, but doesn’t sink it. He allows Jonah to be thrown overboard, but instead of letting him drown, provides him with another—albeit smellier—type of vessel. It’s almost as if God has decided to have a little fun at Jonah’s expense, so that he will finally take up his prophetic calling.
Of course, the story of Jonah is just that—an inspired story. Still, we can all relate to the predicament that the hero of this story finds himself in. We have all endured some kind of suffering, either as the result of a wrong choice we have made or through no fault of our own. Sometimes that suffering made us feel like Jonah, as if we were in complete darkness, and God had abandoned us. Yet after the fact, it’s obvious that he was guiding us through every turn—even though he let us take a few spills along the way.
The lesson Jonah can teach us is not just to obey God. This story also tells us to consider a new approach to our lives. Instead of worrying, we can trust that God already knows what’s ahead and embrace whatever comes. As Paul did, we can learn to be content in any circumstance (Philippians 4:11).
God doesn’t want us to be happy only some of the time. Walking with him means that we can rejoice always, for we know that he loves us and will never let us be tested beyond what we can endure (1 Corinthians 10:13).
“Father, I know you can move the mountains in my life. I trust that you can do all things. Please give me a grateful and humble heart!”
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