Monday of the 27th week in ordinary time year A
Jonah 1:1-17; 2:1.10 Luke 10: 25-37
Theme: The Word of God
In the 1st reading of today from the prophet Jonah, we see how God decides to enforce his will in our life, even when we plan to run away from the will of God, because we are not comfortable with it. This was exactly what happened to Jonah in the 1st reading of today. The Lord sent him on a mission to Nineveh, but he was not disposed for it, and instead was running away from the mission, and God had to take him to Nineveh in his own way. At the end of the day, he had to go for the mission sent him by God.
Sometimes God sends us on a mission that we are not comfortable with, but we must trust in him and go for the mission. He has a reason why he decides to choose you for that mission, so, let us try to see it as a privilege not a punishment. A positive disposition towards the word of God will go a long way towards helping us to build a solid relationship with God and help us to be true ambassadors for Christ wherever we find ourselves. God cannot send us on a mission that we cannot accomplish, so, never think you are not capable to accomplish the mission given to you by God. Remember that he knows you very well and will empower and accompany you on such a mission. He can never send you on a mission where you will be disgraced.
One of the things that will help us to have this positive disposition for the mission of God, is love of God and neighbour. Just like we see in the gospel reading of today, with Jesus and the lawyer who put Jesus to the test. The action of the Samaritan man in today’s gospel was guided by his love for neighbour. In the same way, we will gladly embrace the mission of God when we allow the love of God and neighbours to guide our actions. If jonah had this consciousness when he was sent the message by God, probably he would have gone on his own, instead of running away from his mission. This is because the lives of the people of Nineveh was at stake in the mission God sent him. Humanly speaking, sometimes it may be difficult to accept some missions from God, at such moments in our lives, may his grace strengthen us; so that we don’t make mistake like Jonah did in todays 1st reading. May the Lord bless his words in our hearts, in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit. Amen. Peace be with you.