Tuesday of the
Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
(Jonah 3:1-10; Luke 10:38-42)
Since no historical records exist of the mass conversion
of Nineveh and since the story of Jonah drips with exaggeration, the book is
taken as an instruction to later Jews rather than a chronicle of an actual
event. It certainly indicates God’s will
that other peoples be saved. It also warns
against prejudice.
Nineveh’s complete repentance is seen in the way both
king and people change their hearts. This
sense is punctuated by dressing the animals in sackcloth. Given that every society has some
backsliders, Jews would have marveled to hear how thorough the conversion of
their feared neighbors to the northeast was.
These were the same barbarians who had ravaged their ancestors. Perhaps, the Jews could conclude, they are
not as bad as they seemed.
The Book of Jonah is instructive to us as well. It tells us not to write any people or any
person off as beyond salvation. God can
work wonders. Those whom we may regard as despicable may surpass us in
rendering true worship to God.
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