The Lord is merciful and gracious

Jonah 4:1-11, Lk. 11:1-4. What a glaring gap between Jonah’s belief and his actions. This man who claimed to worship the Lord who made the sea and the dry land now seeks to flee from his mission by a long sea voyage. The paradox becomes more poignant when eventually he has no choice but to preach to the Ninevites. He knew that God is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger and rich in kindness” but wanted no part in spreading that goodnews, for fear that God might show mercy to that hated nation, the people of Nineveh. In today's first reading, Jonah could not conceive the idea of Israel’s enemies receiving mercy, after the harm they had done to his people. He pleaded to be allowed to bypass Nineveh and leave it to destruction, but he becomes angry when God fails to save the gourd plant. The selfish prophet thinks God must spare this little tree, to shade him from the fierce sun and burning east wind.

God’s reply ironically chides Jonah, while declaring the doctrine of universal divine mercy: “You are concerned for the plant… Should I not be concerned for Nineveh, with all its inhabitants?” The key to being a good disciple of the Lord is to be willing to seek to do what God wills and be open to how God is acting in our own lives and the lives of the people around us. We all need to ask God’s help from time to time; and Jesus teaches that our petitions should focus first on what God wants: “your name be held holy, your kingdom come,” and then ask for our most basic needs. In today's Gospel, Jesus challenges us that all our prayers should spring from a basic desire that our whole human world may be transformed as God desires. Jesus goes on to name some basic gifts we really need — the forgiveness of our sins, sustenance for the day and God’s help when our faith is put to the test. These need to be our priority petitions, and, by implication, all other petitions must link to those fundamental ones.

May the love of the Lord in us overcome all things so that we may be open to doing the will of God! Amen!! Have a pleasant day!!!