Daily Readings - Tue Oct 10 2023
Jonah
1And the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying2Rise, and go to Nineveh, the great city. And preach in it the preaching that I say to you3And Jonah rose, and he went to Nineveh in accordance with the word of the Lord. And Nineveh was a great city of three days’ journey4And Jonah began to enter into the city one day’s journey. And he cried out and said, "Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed.5And the men of Nineveh believed in God. And they proclaimed a fast, and they put on sackcloth, from the greatest all the way to the least6And word reached the king of Nineveh. And he rose from his throne, and he threw off his robe from himself and was clothed in sackcloth, and he sat in ashes7And he cried out and spoke: "In Nineveh, from the mouth of the king and of his princes, let it be said: Men and beasts and oxen and sheep may not taste anything. Neither shall they feed or drink water8And let men and beasts be covered with sackcloth, and let them cry out to the Lord with strength, and may man be converted from his evil way, and from the iniquity that is in their hands9Who knows if God may turn and forgive, and may turn away from his furious wrath, so that we might not perish?10And God saw their works, that they had been converted from their evil way. And God took pity on them, concerning the harm that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it
Luke
38Now it happened that, while they were traveling, he entered into a certain town. And a certain woman, named Martha, received him into her home39And she had a sister, named Mary, who, while sitting beside the Lord’s feet, was listening to his word40Now Martha was continually busying herself with serving. And she stood still and said: "Lord, is it not a concern to you that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore, speak to her, so that she may help me.41And the Lord responded by saying to her: "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled over many things42And yet only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the best portion, and it shall not be taken away from her.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of conversion, discernment, and the importance of prioritizing our relationship with God. In the first reading, Jonah is sent to the city of Nineveh to call its people to repentance. Though Jonah initially resisted this mission, he eventually obeyed, and his message moved the entire city, from the king to the lowest citizen, to turn away from sin. The Ninevites’ dramatic conversion shows us the power of repentance and the mercy of God, who is always ready to forgive those who return to him with sincere hearts.
In the Gospel, we encounter Martha and Mary, two sisters who represent two different ways of responding to God’s presence. Martha is consumed by her busyness in serving, while Mary chooses to sit at Jesus’ feet, listening to his word. Jesus gently reminds Martha that while service is good, it is not the only thing. Mary’s choice to prioritize time with the Lord is presented as the “better part,” one that will not be taken away from her. This passage challenges us to examine our own lives and ensure that we are not so distracted by worldly concerns that we neglect the one thing necessary: a deep, personal relationship with God.
These readings remind us that true conversion involves both action and contemplation. Like the Ninevites, we must turn away from sin and seek God’s mercy. Like Mary, we must create space in our lives to listen to God’s voice and prioritize what truly matters. As we go about our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Are we too busy to hear God’s call? Are we willing to let go of distractions and choose the better part? May we, like Mary, find joy and fulfillment in sitting at the feet of the Lord, and may we, like the Ninevites, experience the transformative power of repentance and God’s boundless mercy.