Daily Readings - Tue Oct 10 2017
First Reading - Jonah 3.1-10
Jonah
1And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying,2Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.3So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey.4And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.5So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.6For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.7And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water:8But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.9Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?10And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
Gospel - Luke 10.38-42
Luke
38Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.39And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.40But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.41And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:42But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall 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.