Jesus, the opposite of Jonah: Daily Mass Homily--Monday, October 13th, 2014

(Listen to this homily here.)  
     
            “Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.”

            Jesus refers to the prophet Jonah and his ministry to the Ninevites.  Biblical scholars note that Jonah was meant to be funny.  Here was a prophet who ran from God’s will, got thrown into the sea and swallowed by a fish, half-heartedly prophesied God’s Word, waited for Nineveh to be smote with fire and then whined that it was too hot.

            The sign which Jesus refers to in the book of Jonah is that he spent three nights in the belly of the fish.  So, too, would the Son of Man spend three nights in the tomb.

            But that is where the similarities between Jesus and Jonah end.  In fact, Jesus did the exact opposite of Jonah.  Jonah ran away from God’s will—Jesus fulfilled his Father’s will his entire life.  Jonah was not in control of his ministry and God had to use supernatural forces to get him on course.  Jesus was in control and consistently submitted his will to God.  Jonah preached sullenly, expecting (and almost hoping) the Ninevites would be destroyed.  Jesus proclaimed God’s Word with passion and offered his very life for the conversion of sinners.  Jonah lived; Jesus died.

            Jesus referred to Jonah to point out the fact that the Ninevites did convert.  He challenged those who did not believe in him, even though “…there is something greater than Jonah here.”

            The question to us today—will we be converted more fully to God?  His greatness surrounds us, especially at Mass.  Will we be hard-hearted and follow our own will, or experience conversion and follow God’s will?