Wednesday, October 6, 2021

 Wednesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

(Jonah 4:1-11; Luke 11:1-4)

It is said that the indigenous of mid-Guatemala were so fierce that their territory was called the “land of war.”  Then Dominican priest Bartolomé de Las Casas proposed a plan to convert the hostile natives.  Without any guns at all he and other Dominicans would trach native traders the gospel.  In turn the traders brought the good news into rural areas.  Soon the people were evangelized and pacified.  Since then, there land has been renamed. It is called “Verapaz” or “true peace.” Today’s first reading intimates a similar story.

Jonah has carried a prejudice against the Ninevites.  They conquered and oppressed his ancestors who were brought into exile in Nineveh.   Now they have repented of their sins and are being shown God’s mercy.  Jonah would have them annihilated not exonerated.  For this reason, he broods over what his preaching at God’s insistence has wrought.

We might not want to forgive those who have harmed us either.  Even though they apologize and extend a hand, we might want to see them suffer.  The Book of Jonah tells us that this is not the attitude God expects from us.  Quite the contrary, we should thank God for converting the hearts of people.  We should also rejoice with the people for coming to know God’s mercy.

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