Reflection for Tuesday of 27th Week in
Ordinary Time Year A
(Jonah 3:1-10, Lk 11:1-4)
1.0. The Second Call
The word of the Lord came to Jonah the
second time…He tried to escape the first time but ended in the belly of a
big fish. He prayed, God heard him and rescued him. At this second call, he
dare not try anything funny. I guess fear of the first ordeal wasenough to fly
Jonah to Nineveh, if love of preaching would not move him. “So Jonah arose and
went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord.”
Unlike
other prophets, Jonah did not have much to say to the Ninevites. His preaching
sounded monotonous. Yet forty days, and
Nineveh shall be overthrown!” There was no elabourations, no demonstrations
or stories to convince his audience. It is obvious that Jonah did not go for
love of the people, but just to please God and
probably to avoid being swallowed by something else…
Nineveh was a city beyond compare; a
great city with great sinners. The size of the city is described as taking
three days journey in breath. Surprisingly, the Prophet only made a day’s
journey and the whole city repented. Then we begin to wonder whether God
actually needed Jonah to convert the city. His effort became insignificant in
the face of the magnitude of the outcome.
2.0. A Day’s Walk
Jonah’s
one day journey was necessary for God to renew the city. “I did the panting,
Apollos did the watering, but God gave growth” (1 Cor 3:6). God requires our
availability. The efforts we make to bring the Gospel message and it’s righteousness
to those around us are like Jonah’s one day walk into Nineveh. It is God who
brings the efforts to completion. So the preacher or the one who shows good
example, must do it with utmost humility, relying solely on God. It is not for
show or to impress. Such a one ought to be like Mary at the feet of Jesus, as
we read in the Gospel today.
The
journey is long; we may not see the end of it. We have a lot to fret and care
for like Martha. But a day’s walk at
the feet of Jesus accomplishes much. Jonah’s words were few. But at the feet of
Jesus words may disappear. The sound of
silence communicates the trust and represents the humility. Therefore, a day’s walk with Jesus ought to be our
disposition in facing life challenges and in responding to God’s call.
Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Mater Domini Community,
Enugu, Nigeria.
October 10, 2017.
