More Important Things to Do
Oct. 10: Tuesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Whenever I read about Jonah, I think about this tweet.1
Oddly, it’s kind of a relevant to today’s readings.
Reading 1
Jon 3:1-10
The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: "Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and announce to it the message that I will tell you."
So Jonah made ready and went to Nineveh, according to the LORD's bidding. Now Nineveh was an enormously large city; it took three days to go through it. Jonah began his journey through the city, and had gone but a single day's walk announcing, "Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed," when the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth.
When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in the ashes. Then he had this proclaimed throughout Nineveh, by decree of the king and his nobles: "Neither man nor beast, neither cattle nor sheep, shall taste anything; they shall not eat, nor shall they drink water. Man and beast shall be covered with sackcloth and call loudly to God; every man shall turn from his evil way and from the violence he has in hand. Who knows, God may relent and forgive, and withhold his blazing wrath, so that we shall not perish."
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.
In some ways, Jonah is a comedy. Yesterday,2 Jonah’s fellow travelers prayed to God: “do not charge them with shedding innocent blood,” before tossing him overboard. Whatever happens next, it’s up to God! Then God sends a giant fish, which is just cartoonishly over the top.
Now today, Jonah drags his feet, starting off on a three day journey across an enormous city. But then, just a day later, the whole city repents! Even the king! Even the livestock!
It’s all very exaggerated, but there’s a real lesson beneath it. As soon as we realize what we’ve done wrong, we should repent. No matter who we are, no matter what we’re doing, getting right with God is the most important, urgent task. Nothing is more important than our relationship with God.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 130:1b-2, 3-4ab, 7-8
R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD
LORD, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to my voice in supplication.
R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
If you, O LORD, mark iniquities,
LORD, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness,
that you may be revered.
R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
Let Israel wait for the LORD,
For with the LORD is kindness
and with him is plenteous redemption;
And he will redeem Israel
from all their iniquities.
R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
This is one of seven penitential psalms , and part of the regular cycle of evening prayers in the Liturgy of the Hours.
But it shouldn’t be taken as a downer. Yes, we can’t actually live up to God’s standards. If God actually weighed our sins, we’d all be in serious trouble.
But thanks to Jesus, he doesn’t. He redeems us. We, like the Ninevites, just have to repent and accept His gracious forgiveness.
Alleluia
Lk 11:28
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are those who hear the word of God
and observe it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Sometimes the connections between the Alleluia and the readings are obscure. Then there’s verses like this, which is basically a two-line summary of the first reading.
Gospel
Lk 10:38-42
Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me."
The Lord said to her in reply, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her."
There’s always work to be done. Cooking, cleaning, making sure everyone is comfortable. Sometimes, these things are even necessary.
Yet, we can’t let that interfere with our relationship with God. Don’t forget, He’s the reason you have a house to clean, food to cook, friends to comfort. Always make time for Jesus.
Here’s the video, since Substack doesn’t allow embeds. Don’t worry, they survived.
Again, sorry I missed it.