Take up your cross, the Savior said,
If you would my disciple be;
Deny yourself, the world forsake,
And humbly follow after me.
(A 1st week reminder)
If you would my disciple be;
Deny yourself, the world forsake,
And humbly follow after me.
(A 1st week reminder)
Today's Readings
Remember Jonah? Probably the story of the "whale" comes to mind. Actually, according to the Scripture scholars, it was not necessarily a whale. In one of the shortest OT books, only four chapters, Jonah does not mention a "whale." For him it is a big fish. Unfortunately most readers and tellers of OT stories, take the bait and talk about the supposed whale element of the story. Not the purpose of the story, my friends.
What we don't want to miss is the style of preaching Jonah offers. Read carefully, the Book of Jonah puts forth a petulant and confused prophet. Have you heard that before in any discussion about Jonah? Probably not. He is recognized among the people of his time as the Prophet of Doom and Gloom. What he sought to remove from the scene is clear: "Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed." It was the city/town of Nineveh that he wanted leveled.
So Prophet Doom and Gloom sets out announcing what he believed to be the message of God. Obviously he was determined to see the people there fail!!! (Ooops! Sounds too familiar these days, doesn't it???? Maybe we have not progressed all that far!!!) But, to his surprise and disappointment, the people and the king truly heard his message. Repentance took place. You would think that the prophet would have been jumping out of his pulpit! Not so, Jonah! His intention was undermined.
So, what's the purpose of the story here? Think back to Jesus' words after his teaching the disciples how to prayer ... forgive others. The theme continues here for our Lenten consideration. God's mercy is all encompassing. It is our challenge to forgive. God's love is offered to everyone regardless of how we might think about those in need of forgiveness. Again, remember the sentiment of Fr. Spitzer's prayer: "God, you are the Judge; I leave it in your hands." The "big sin" that we can easily buy into is determining that we are the Judge!
What we don't want to miss is the style of preaching Jonah offers. Read carefully, the Book of Jonah puts forth a petulant and confused prophet. Have you heard that before in any discussion about Jonah? Probably not. He is recognized among the people of his time as the Prophet of Doom and Gloom. What he sought to remove from the scene is clear: "Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed." It was the city/town of Nineveh that he wanted leveled.
So Prophet Doom and Gloom sets out announcing what he believed to be the message of God. Obviously he was determined to see the people there fail!!! (Ooops! Sounds too familiar these days, doesn't it???? Maybe we have not progressed all that far!!!) But, to his surprise and disappointment, the people and the king truly heard his message. Repentance took place. You would think that the prophet would have been jumping out of his pulpit! Not so, Jonah! His intention was undermined.
So, what's the purpose of the story here? Think back to Jesus' words after his teaching the disciples how to prayer ... forgive others. The theme continues here for our Lenten consideration. God's mercy is all encompassing. It is our challenge to forgive. God's love is offered to everyone regardless of how we might think about those in need of forgiveness. Again, remember the sentiment of Fr. Spitzer's prayer: "God, you are the Judge; I leave it in your hands." The "big sin" that we can easily buy into is determining that we are the Judge!
