Daily Readings - Tue Oct 10 2017
Jonah
1Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying,2"Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you."3So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days' journey in breadth.4Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And he called out, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!"5And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.6The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.7And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, "By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water,8but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.9Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish."10When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.
Luke
38Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.39And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching.40But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me."41But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,42but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of repentance, mercy, and the importance of prioritizing our relationship with God. In the first reading from Jonah, we see the people of Nineveh responding to Jonah’s warning with immediate repentance. They fast, wear sackcloth, and cry out to God, trusting in his mercy. This dramatic change of heart moves God to spare the city, showing us that true repentance leads to forgiveness and salvation. The reading reminds us that God is always ready to forgive when we turn to him with sincere hearts.
In the Gospel, we encounter Martha and Mary, two sisters who represent two different ways of living the Christian life. Martha is consumed by her duties, anxious about serving and ensuring everything is perfect. Mary, on the other hand, chooses to sit at Jesus’ feet, listening to his words. Jesus gently rebukes Martha, not because service is unimportant, but because she has allowed her busyness to distract her from what truly matters: being present to God. Mary’s choice to prioritize time with Jesus teaches us that our spiritual lives must come first; everything else flows from that relationship.
Together, these readings call us to examine our own lives. Like the people of Nineveh, we are called to repentance—to turn away from sin and toward God with humility and trust. Like Mary, we are invited to create space in our lives for prayer, reflection, and intimacy with God. In a world that often values productivity and activity, these readings remind us that our ultimate priority should be our relationship with God. Let us strive to balance our actions with contemplation, trusting that when we seek God first, everything else will fall into place.