Daily Readings - Tue Oct 05 2021
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.
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
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on our response to God's presence in our lives. The first reading from Jonah recounts the prophet's mission to Nineveh, where the entire city, from the king to the lowest citizen, repents upon hearing Jonah's warning. Their swift and sincere repentance moves God to spare the city, illustrating the profound impact of genuine conversion. This story underscores the universal call to turn away from sin and towards God's mercy.
The Gospel presents a different yet complementary scene. Jesus visits the home of Martha and Mary, where Martha is consumed by the duties of hospitality while Mary sits at Jesus' feet, absorbed in his word. Jesus gently chides Martha, affirming that Mary has chosen the "better part," which will not be taken from her. This passage highlights the importance of prioritizing our spiritual life, of listening to and being present with the Lord amidst life's busyness.
Both readings call us to examine our own lives. Like the people of Nineveh, we are invited to repent and turn towards God with sincerity. Like Mary, we are encouraged to create space for prayer and reflection, allowing God's word to transform us. In a world that often values productivity over presence, these readings remind us that our ultimate priority should be our relationship with God. May we, like Mary, choose the better part, and may we, like the Ninevites, respond with humility and openness to God's call.