T
Tom7
Guest
I just want to express some gratitude for something I learned this morning. I am new to Catholicism and have begun to read the mass readings along with a Catholic Commentary.
Today’s reading is about Jonah. I never knew that the book was written for hard hearted Jews who thought they were the only ones capable of salvation.
This is what it said
Commentary
The sign of Jonah is understood by Matthew to mean the resurrection of Jesus after three days in the tomb, just as Jonah emerged from the belly of the sea beast after three days. But the story of Jonah has lovely value also for itself. The nub of the whole Book of Jonah comes in today’s reading. It is a satire, written of course by a Jew, but mocking the Jews for their complacency and their conviction that the Chosen Race were the only ones to be saved.
Jonah was summoned by the LORD to a task and did his best to avoid it by taking ship in the opposite direction. When the storm is at its height he even admits that his disobedience is responsible for the period to the sailors. They, on the other hand, are full of care for him, and thoroughly unwilling to obey his instructions to throw him overboard. When the Lord gives Jonah a second chance he grumpily goes to convert Nineveh, and is further annoyed to see that they are converted and do exaggerated penance. Even the animals wear sackcloth and refrain from eating or drinking. Meanwhile Jonah watches over the city from the neighbouring hilltop, eagerly waiting for it to be destroyed. All he wants is for Nineveh to be destroyed; he cares much more about himself being proved right – even though his threat was provisional – than about the salvation of the Ninevites. The message is obvious: the gentiles are more responsive to the word of God than is the Jew – and he a prophet at that!
This is a tonic for me to not get too high minded. What theological genius wrote this I wonder.
Today’s reading is about Jonah. I never knew that the book was written for hard hearted Jews who thought they were the only ones capable of salvation.
This is what it said
Commentary
The sign of Jonah is understood by Matthew to mean the resurrection of Jesus after three days in the tomb, just as Jonah emerged from the belly of the sea beast after three days. But the story of Jonah has lovely value also for itself. The nub of the whole Book of Jonah comes in today’s reading. It is a satire, written of course by a Jew, but mocking the Jews for their complacency and their conviction that the Chosen Race were the only ones to be saved.
Jonah was summoned by the LORD to a task and did his best to avoid it by taking ship in the opposite direction. When the storm is at its height he even admits that his disobedience is responsible for the period to the sailors. They, on the other hand, are full of care for him, and thoroughly unwilling to obey his instructions to throw him overboard. When the Lord gives Jonah a second chance he grumpily goes to convert Nineveh, and is further annoyed to see that they are converted and do exaggerated penance. Even the animals wear sackcloth and refrain from eating or drinking. Meanwhile Jonah watches over the city from the neighbouring hilltop, eagerly waiting for it to be destroyed. All he wants is for Nineveh to be destroyed; he cares much more about himself being proved right – even though his threat was provisional – than about the salvation of the Ninevites. The message is obvious: the gentiles are more responsive to the word of God than is the Jew – and he a prophet at that!
This is a tonic for me to not get too high minded. What theological genius wrote this I wonder.
