Readings: Jon. 3:1-5, 10; 1 Cor. 7:29-31; Mk. 1:14-20
The Reluctant and the Willing Prophets.
1. I want to reflect with you this morning on the theme “The reluctant and the willing prophets.” In the first reading, Jonah is sent to preach repentance to the people of Nineveh. Jonah was reluctant and unwilling to go on this mission. Instead, he boarded a ship and ran to Tarshish. Read the Book of Jonah, a short book indeed, of only four chapters. Why did Jonah refuse to preach to the Ninevites? The Ninevites were the enemies of Israel, the chosen people of God. Jonah could not understand why God should send him to such wicked people.
2. Jonah seems to have forgotten Psalm 139, “Where can I hide from your spirit? If I ascend to the heavens, you are there. If I fly with the wings of dawn and alight beyond the sea. Even there your right hand holds me fast.” (2-10). The Lord foiled his plan of escape and sent a violent storm that threatened to break up the ship. At the confession of Jonah, that he was responsible for the storm, he was thrown into the sea, where he was swallowed up by a fish. He spent three days and three nights in the belly of the fish before he was spewed out. With no option left, he reluctantly embarked on the mission to convert his enemies. The first reading recounted the effect of his preaching, which brought about the conversion of the Ninevites. God does not punish his people but gives them a second chance to redeem themselves through the preaching of his prophets. “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lords, plans for your welfare, not for woe! Plans to give you a future full of hope.” (Jer. 29:11) God is always willing to forgive us and reconcile us to himself and one another. The Ninevites needed to hear the good news, there was no hesitation in their turning away from their sins. But Jonah was reluctant and unwilling to preach to them.
3. The book of Jonah makes it clear to us that if God wills something to happen, it will happen, whether we like it or not. And if God wants to use us for his mission, we cannot say ‘no’ to him for too long. He willed that Jonah would be his instrument for the conversion of the Ninevites; and so, it was. Even those we consider our enemies are God’s children too. Jonah allowed his national pride to triumph the need of repentance for the people “who cannot distinguish their right hand from their left…” (Jonah 4:11). He was judgmental and condescending, though he preached as commanded, he did not desire the conversion of the Ninevites. “When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil that he had threatened to do to them; he did not carry it out. But this was greatly displeasing to Jonah, and he became angry. I beseech you, Lord, he prayed, is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? This is why I fled at first to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger, rich in clemency, loathe to punish.” (Jonah 3:10-4:1-3). We should know that “If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.” (1 Jn 1:9).
4 While the first reading tells us about the reluctant and the unwilling prophet Jonah, the Gospel shows us the willingness of Christ to embrace his mission for the salvation of the world. Christ loved the people he was sent to save; he called them friends and laid down his life for them. “Greater love than this no man has, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (Jn. 15:13). He reminds us, “Everything that the Father gives to me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me.” (Jn. 6:37). He called them to repent for the kingdom of God is at hand. Jonah and Jesus preached the same repentance but their attitude towards the people was different. One loved and the other could care less. Jesus knew that the call to be a missionary disciple should be extended to all. He knew that “The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few.” (Mt. 9:37) He needed people to assist him in bringing others into the kingdom. He called his first disciples who answered without hesitation. How do we answer our call to follow Jesus? Do we hesitate like Jonah or do we answer like Peter, James and John? Are we reluctant or are we willing to do our part? We are told not to be engrossed in the world, but to use things for the kingdom of God rather than allow things to master us. There are many people in the world who want to hear the word of the kingdom but there is no one to preach to them. Are you willing to engage people in answering the questions of their lives? Do we find it easy or difficult to begin a conversation with our friends about the kingdom of God, confronting, refuting errors and encouraging people to change their lives? This is our mission, to assist Christ in bringing people to God. May we not abdicate our responsibilities but be prepared to answer when Christ calls us “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men. Amen.
Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP
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