Today, as I reflect on the first reading, it is more about how we, as Christians, should go out into the world, regardless of race, language, or even religion, that we should go out to touch as many lives and lead them to an encounter with our Lord Jesus Christ. For Jesus is for all, not for a select few.
Today’s first reading is a satire of how the Jewish behaviour was, that they could not see past their own race, that they were the chosen ones for salvation. And so the way Jonah goes out, reluctantly, to preach repentance is laughable. He only talked about their doom and destruction, and yet the people still decided to change their ways and repent.
Shouldn’t we instead go out in love and truly want to win souls for the Lord, so that everyone can have the light of Christ within them, to live joyous lives to the full in Him?
And so we are also reminded in today’s Gospel, that while it is important to be of service to our Lord and to our brethren, we must also come and sit by His feet to receive the graces He wants us to receive, to receive His love, so that we can share His love with all that we meet, and His love will truly reflect in our words and service, all in the Lord’s good time. Amen.
Our Lady of the Rosary pray for us…
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First reading
Jonah 3:1-10
The Ninevites repent, and God spares them
The word of the Lord was addressed to Jonah: ‘Up!’ he said ‘Go to Nineveh, the great city, and preach to them as I told you to.’ Jonah set out and went to Nineveh in obedience to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was a city great beyond compare: it took three days to cross it. Jonah went on into the city, making a day’s journey. He preached in these words, ‘Only forty days more and Nineveh is going to be destroyed.’ And the people of Nineveh believed in God; they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least. The news reached the king of Nineveh, who rose from his throne, took off his robe, put on sackcloth and sat down in ashes. A proclamation was then promulgated throughout Nineveh, by decree of the king and his ministers, as follows: ‘Men and beasts, herds and flocks, are to taste nothing; they must not eat, they must not drink water. All are to put on sackcloth and call on God with all their might; and let everyone renounce his evil behaviour and the wicked things he has done. Who knows if God will not change his mind and relent, if he will not renounce his burning wrath, so that we do not perish?’ God saw their efforts to renounce their evil behaviour, and God relented: he did not inflict on them the disaster which he had threatened.
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Gospel
Luke 10:38-42
Martha works; Mary listens
Jesus came to a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. She had a sister called Mary, who sat down at the Lord’s feet and listened to him speaking. Now Martha who was distracted with all the serving said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered: ‘Martha, Martha,’ he said ‘you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her.’
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