Reflection on Today's Readings, Wednesday of 27th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1, October 6th, 2021
Texts: Jonah 4:1-11; Ps. 86:3-6.9-10; Luke11:1-4
People like Jonah are still in this world: they are sad and angry over good done to someone. Jonah was not happy that God did not destroy the Nineveh. He was angry with God for pardoning the people and was ready to die. That is the attitude of wicked people; they are ready to lay down their lives to destroy others. Today we are called to be aware of this attitude of Jonah and to run away from it. Let us be happy for others' good.
Another thing about Jonah in the reading was that he wanted to bend God to do his will; he wanted his will to prevail over the will of God. We are like him whenever we want God to answer our prayers the way we want it. We need to remember the word of prophet Isaiah in this matter: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts" (55:8-9). Whenever we pray we need to be like Jesus who said, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done" (Luke 22:42).
In today's gospel reading, Jesus teaches us what to say while praying. We should see God as our Father whom our good is His will. We are to desire His kingdom, that is, His reign over us. God reigns over us when His will prevails in our lives. We need to trust in His providence by asking for each day's daily bread. We need to recognise that we are sinners and as such ask for the forgiveness of our sinners on the basis that we also forgive others. This part reminds us that we need to do to others what we demand from God. If we want good from God we need to do good to others. Jesus asks us to pray that we may not be led into temptation because it is the will of God that we are saved from temptation. This reminds us that the will of God is for our good.
Jonah reminds us today an important attribute of God. He says, "I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy, and that you repent of evil." Jonah is an example of what man could be. Man wills punishment and destruction for his offenders, no matter the change of heart. However, God is different; He forgives and pardons offence when there is change of heart. While man shows his power by punishment and destruction, God shows His power by showing mercy and compassion. This teaches us to seek refuge under God rather than man; let us put our trust in God instead of man.
God taught Jonah a lesson in the reading. It is said, "And the Lord said, 'You pity the plant, for which you did not labour, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night, and perished in a night. And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?'" In this word we see the value of Jesus' redemptive price. God will always have mercy on because of the price Jesus paid for our salvation. If Jonah should show concern for that which he did not labour; how much more reasonable it is for God to show us mercy?
Lord our God, heal us of bad attitude and inspire us mercy and compassion; help us also to allow Your will to prevail over us. Amen.
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
Posts
0 Comments