December 16: Jonah
Traditional Ornament: Whale
Reading: Jonah 1-3
“But the Lord sent a great fish to swallow Jonah, and he remained in the belly of the fish three days and nights.” (Jonah 2:1)
Jonah’s story reminds us once again that the people God chooses to work through aren’t perfect. Jonah is often referred to as the reluctant prophet, but that is actually putting it mildly. When God calls on Jonah to deliver his message to the people of Nineveh, he literally runs away, boarding a boat to Tarshish instead.
We know the story of Jonah well, he tries to hide from God, but God is one step ahead of him. As he is tossed overboard during the height of the storm at sea, God sends a great fish to swallow Jonah. He spends three days and nights in the belly of the fish. In Advent, we recall Jonah’s story because it points to Christ. “Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.” (Matthew 12:40)
There is another reason to consider Jonah this Advent. Perhaps we are more like Jonah than we think. Maybe, like Jonah, we try to hide from God and his plans for us. Maybe, like Jonah. we think we know better what we should be doing with our lives, and like Jonah, take matters into our own hands. Jonah doesn’t lack faith, but he doesn’t seem to “get” that everyone is worthy of the Lord’s mercy. This Advent we look forward to the coming of Jesus, and we should remember that he came for all of us.
© 2017 Catechist’s Aide
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