Daily Readings - Tue Oct 10 2023
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
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.