04/10/2021

The Jonah narrative with dialogue gives me an insight into the mindset of the writers who recorded this interaction between God and man. Each sailor had a God to whom he made entreaty. There was no unity of belief. The sleeping Jonah was awakened to profess his belief and to petition for saving help. The sailors were said to be in utter fear as they realised that Jonah must be guilty of a huge sin, a defiance of the Lord. Jonah offers himself as the sacrifice that will appease the anger that has produced the storm. 

Natural events were considered to be the result of the anger of a god and the key to obtaining divine help was to find the right god to appeal to.

"The only sign you will receive is the sign of Jonah" 

"Who is my neighbour?"

Our Lord accepts the challenge of the smartypants lawyer and the parable of the " Good Samaritan" is heard for the first time. I am sure that there are people in the world who have never heard this parable, But where I am now it is the original source of a social policy that aims to care for the weak and poor of our country. The care for other people that is the boast of our leaders is extended to the poor of all nations and every day we see appeals to help victims of war and natural disasters.

We need not be ashamed of this secular  implementation of Christian values. But what about our neglect of God most obviously seen in the treatment of the unborn? The procreation of a human being is treated as an individual natural disaster and the unborn are destroyed before they complete the first stage of life that has been given to them by God.

How can we face up to our responsibility for this sin. Biden is wrong in his interpretation of his own role in politics; he  puts himself outside the Body of Christ by his words and public deeds; so why does he bother going to mass let alone to communion?

Dear Lord help me to overcome my sins and let me always act in accordance with your teaching. "Where shall I go? You Lord have the words of eternal life.