Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Still Waiting for Comeuppance

Wednesday of the First Week of Lent
Jonah 3:1-10

(I love this brooding Jonah...one hand holding up his chin and the other in the 'pissed off' position on his knee)


It is rare that I remember the content of specific homilies.  Not because I haven’t heard many good ones, but because their effect on me is more subtle.  But I will never forget a homily I heard on Jonah…I believe the parish was Christ the King, in Nashville, Tennessee.

I can still see the pastor walking up and down the aisle…whispering.  “Forty days more and Ninevah shall be destroyed,” he whispered taking on the character of Jonah.  Because, you see, Jonah was thrilled with God’s original scorched earth plan. 

From the point of view of Jonah and the population of the northern kingdom of Israel, the Ninevites were ISIS and Al-Qaida put together…and then some.

If Jonah is giving his preaching---all 8 words of it---every ounce of energy he has for concern for the Ninevites and commitment to his call…well then I want to liken myself to Jonah!  But, this particular homily asked me to look inside my own heart and wonder. 

How do I pray for my enemies?
Is it more like a quiet mumbling while I head in the opposite direction…in Jonah’s case, Tarshish?
Do I pray like Jonah…in the hopes that it doesn’t get answered?
How do I tame my brooding and resentment...my longing for comeuppance?

Tough stuff…this caring about enemies business. 
And Jonah never does ‘get happy’ about Ninevah NOT getting its due.

Jonah as a negative example worked on me in that homily…
And it is still working!





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