Daily Readings - Mon Oct 09 2023
Jonah
1Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,2"Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me."3But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.4But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up.5Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep.6So the captain came and said to him, "What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish."7And they said to one another, "Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us." So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.8Then they said to him, "Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?"9And he said to them, "I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land."10Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, "What is this that you have done!" For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.11Then they said to him, "What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?" For the sea grew more and more tempestuous.12He said to them, "Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you."13Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them.14Therefore they called out to the LORD, "O LORD, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O LORD, have done as it pleased you."15So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging.16Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows.17And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
Luke
25And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"26He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?"27And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."28And he said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live."29But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"30Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.31Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.32So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.33But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.34He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.35And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.'36Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?"37He said, "The one who showed him mercy." And Jesus said to him, "You go, and do likewise."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful stories that invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and our neighbors. The first reading from Jonah recounts the prophet’s attempt to flee from God’s call to preach to the people of Nineveh. Jonah’s reluctance leads to a dramatic storm at sea, which subsides only when he acknowledges God’s will and is cast into the water. The Lord’s mercy is evident as Jonah is saved by a great fish, symbolizing God’s patience and desire to bring all people to repentance. The second reading, the parable of the Good Samaritan, challenges us to rethink our understanding of neighborliness. Jesus teaches that being a neighbor is not about geography or association but about showing compassion and mercy to those in need, even to those we might consider strangers or enemies.
Both readings emphasize the importance of responding to God’s call and living out our faith in concrete actions. Jonah’s story reminds us that we cannot escape God’s will, and that His mercy is always available, even in our moments of rebellion. The parable of the Good Samaritan, on the other hand, calls us to move beyond our comfort zones and biases to love others as God loves us. These two readings are connected by the theme of mercy—God’s mercy toward Jonah and the Samaritan’s mercy toward the wounded traveler. They remind us that our faith must be expressed in acts of love and compassion.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Am I listening to God’s voice and responding to His call, even when it is uncomfortable? Am I willing to go out of my way to help those in need, regardless of their background or circumstances? The moral lesson is clear: our faith must be lived out in obedience to God’s will and in selfless love for others. May we, like the Good Samaritan, be moved by mercy to care for one another, and may we, like Jonah, turn back to God with humility and trust in His divine plan.