Homily for the Memorial of St. John XXIII

Today's first reading illustrates the balance between principles and their practical application. There is a stark contradiction in Jonah's attitude: This prophet, who claimed to "worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land" (Jonah 1:9), seeks to run from God by taking a long voyage on the sea.

The irony in today's passage is heartbreaking: Jonah knows that God is filled with mercy and grace and is slow to anger and rich in kindness. Yet, this made him disinclined to preach repentance in the name of such a God who would show mercy to the enemies of his people.

The enraged prophet cannot bear the idea of Israel's enemies becoming the recipients of God's mercy. Jonah is willing to avoid Nineveh and leave it to ruin but is angry when God fails to save the gourd plant. He selfishly believes God should have spared a little tree that shaded Jonah from the sun and wind. God's response shows how foolish was Jonah's attitude:

"You are concerned over the plant which cost you no labor and which you did not raise; it came up in one night and in one night it perished. And should I not be concerned over Nineveh, the great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot distinguish their right hand from their left, not to mention the many cattle?" (Jonah 4:10-11)

Once again, we have proof that God's thoughts are not our thoughts, and God's ways are not ours. And thank God for that!