Daily Readings - Tue Oct 10 2023
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 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.