The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to examine our life for the signs of the opportunities we may have missed up to now to change our attitudes and practices to align more closely to Jesus Way.
Sign for change
The reading from the Book of Jonah describes the conversion of Nineveh.
* [3:7–8] Fasting and wearing sackcloth are signs of human repentance; here they are legislated even for the animals—a humorous touch, perhaps anticipating 4:11. * [3:9–10] Scripture frequently presents the Lord as repenting (or, changing his mind) of the evil that he threatens; e.g., Gn 6:6–7; Jer 18:8.1
Psalm 51 is a prayer for cleansing and pardon.
* [Psalm 51] A lament, the most famous of the seven Penitential Psalms, prays for the removal of the personal and social disorders that sin has brought. The poem has two parts of approximately equal length: Ps 51:3–10 and Ps 51:11–19, and a conclusion in Ps 51:20–21. The two parts interlock by repetition of “blot out” in the first verse of each section (Ps 51:3, 11), of “wash (away)” just after the first verse of each section (Ps 51:4) and just before the last verse (Ps 51:9) of the first section, and of “heart,” “God,” and “spirit” in Ps 51:12, 19. The first part (Ps 51:3–10) asks deliverance from sin, not just a past act but its emotional, physical, and social consequences. The second part (Ps 51:11–19) seeks something more profound than wiping the slate clean: nearness to God, living by the spirit of God (Ps 51:12–13), like the relation between God and people described in Jer 31:33–34. Nearness to God brings joy and the authority to teach sinners (Ps 51:15–16). Such proclamation is better than offering sacrifice (Ps 51:17–19). The last two verses express the hope that God’s good will toward those who are cleansed and contrite will prompt him to look favorably on the acts of worship offered in the Jerusalem Temple (Ps 51:19 [20–21]).2
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus refers to the Sign of Jonah.
* [11:29–32] The “sign of Jonah” in Luke is the preaching of the need for repentance by a prophet who comes from afar. Cf. Mt 12:38–42 (and see notes there) where the “sign of Jonah” is interpreted by Jesus as his death and resurrection.3
Colleen Chiacchere asks how often do we choose our own way, without paying attention to the sometimes subtle voice of the Spirit in our hearts? Decisively persevering with our own desires and priorities without care for another’s well-being or what is good for everyone? How often have we ignored or brushed off the Spirit acting and moving in our hearts, and in our experiences?
We often set out with our own priorities and agendas, the way the Ninevites did prior to the process of repenting in our first reading. Thanks to Jonah’s convincing prophetic voice, they changed their hearts and sought to live in a way that involved relying on God and adjusting their selfish agendas. Jesus, in the Gospel, cautions us against looking for false signs that might lead us in towards wrong directions or in pursuit of something other than closeness and companionship with him. God’s hope and care for us is evident in the persistence and encouragement of Jonah (and giving him another chance) and even more so, now, in the person of Jesus. God and Jesus are constantly working in our lives and among our experiences, breaking into our lives. Pursuing our own agenda may lead to increased convenience, a stronger reputation, or fuel for an unhealthy habit. Or we may just be guilty of being unaware of the ways God is trying to speak to us. Maybe this Lent we can ask God for awareness of Christ’s presence and the Holy Spirit’s urging, in our daily lives. Maybe we can slow down and seek to listen a bit more closely to God’s voice in our hearts, in our experiences, urging us out of our selfish ways. Maybe it means recommitting to a Lenten practice we attempted last week; maybe it means just carving out some silence to listen and reflect on our day with God, through the Ignatian Examen prayer.4
Don Schwager quotes “Don't put off conversion - tomorrow may never come,” by Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"God is not now so long-suffering in putting up with you that He will fail to be just in punishing. Do not say then: 'Tomorrow I shall be converted, tomorrow I shall please God, and all that I shall have done today and yesterday will be forgiven me.' What you say is true: God has promised forgiveness if you turn back to Him. But what He has not promised is that you will have tomorrow in which to achieve your conversion." (excerpt from Commentary on Psalm 144,11)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Jonah 3:1-10 comments that in a sense, we do see a miracle like Nineveh take place every Sunday. Simply by entering the doors of their churches, millions of people are responding to Jesus’ call to “repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15).
Remember too that you are part of the Church. Your prayers, your acts of love, your sharing of your faith—they make a difference, even if you can’t see it. They never go without God’s grace. As more and more people come together, that grace can flow even more powerfully. We should never underestimate God’s ability to use us to help people “turn from [their] evil way” (Jonah 3:8)! “Father, let your grace flow through me and through your body, the Church.”6
Friar Jude Winkler provides background to the reluctance of Jonah to preach in Nineveh. Two signs are found in Jonah in the belly of the whale and as a preacher coming from away. Friar Jude notes that we need to take the Word seriously and be ready to change what is not consistent with the Good News.
Brian McLaren has spent decades thinking about change in the church and why so many resist it. Here he summarizes what often happens to our religious institutions once they lose their original purpose. A religion that cuts itself off from the example of its founder while still bearing the founder’s name often becomes little more than a chaplaincy for other ideologies, offering its services to the highest bidder. No wonder so many religious folks today wear down, burn out, and opt out. Minister, entrepreneur, and author Cameron Trimble sees the decline of church structures as an opportunity to ask questions that matter, to rediscover and renew our faith.
What is church really about? I’ve always understood the church as being a community with a shared story in our scriptures, which binds us together. Church is about weaving relationships together so that life for all of us is more deeply rooted in Love. Today, I would offer that the church also offers a platform to work together to build a world that acts and advocates for the common good of all of us. We are warriors, lovers, peacemakers, protectors, prophets, thinkers, and dreamers who gather together to celebrate our heritage as children of God. At the same time, we are fearlessly willing to stand up and stand in for those our culture might oppress. When we live consciously aware of our power to shape our world for good, we live lives of meaning. We are our own most fully human and fully sacred expressions.7
Our relationship with our community is enriched as we attend to the prompting of the Spirit to act selflessly for the good of others.
References
No comments:
Post a Comment