MUSINGS - Something about Jonah

I find a strange comfort in the story of Jonah.

It opens up simply enough. At least, simply enough, if you are a prophet. Unlike many of my charismatically inclined and gifted friends, I'm not sure that I want to have many days punctuated with a "word of the LORD." I rather like the less direct way God normally leads us.

Anyhow, according to the reading "the word of the LORD comes to Jonah a second time". Did you get that? This is the second time that God had to speak to Jonah, and it wasn't because Jonah had responded well the first time either. In fact, the first time God spoke to this prophet, Jonah behaved rather badly.

In that previous encounter, God had said, "Set out for the great city of Niniveh." Jonah, however, took off in the opposite direction. What's amazing is that Jonah is so hardened in his determination to disregard the word of LORD that he could sleep like a baby on the sinking ship of his disobedience. But God wouldn't leave it at that - so he had Jonah's sailor "friends" do what a storm powerless to do. They woke Jonah up ... then reluctantly tossed the troublemaker into the sea. And for next three days, Jonah prayed and prayed. He also feasted on whale belly food. Finally, when the days of his trauma were full, God told the big fish to burp... and - unlike Jonah - it did what it was told to do, the first time!

That's the background for today's reading, and its absolutely critical for seeing the incredible amount of grace that's been crammed into three little words, a second time. Jonah, sad to say, is too much like us. Or better yet, we are too much like him. But, "thanks be to Jesus," God comes to us a second time.

I am comforted by Jonah's story... and, I think that - when you're most honest with yourself - you are too! If so, then there's still hope for you...and me... this Lent!

Today's Readings: Wednesday, March 8th, 2006.