Jonah 1:1 - 2:1, 11 / Luke 10:25-37
God calls Jonah: Jonah fled from God.
Psychologist Abraham Maslow says that most of us suffer from the Jonah Complex. He explains it this way: Just as Jonah fled from God’s call, so many of us flee inner calls and dreams. Our reason for fleeing them is that we think they are beyond our grasp. Maslow makes his point with students by asking them, “Which of you hopes to write the great American novel or be senator or governor someday?” The students always giggle and laugh. They think such goals are out of the question.
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Are we like Jonah? Are we fleeing from some inner call or dream? “A blind man’s world is bounded by the limits of his touch; an ignorant man’s world by the limits of his knowledge; a great man’s world by the limits of his vision.” E. Paul Harvey
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The late Cardinal John Henry Newman struggled to understand the mystery of his own life, as well as the meaning and purpose of life. As he prayed, he came to this conclusion: God has created him to do some definite service. God has committed some work to him which He has not committed to another. Hence, he has a particular mission in life.
Cardinal Newman was an Anglican cleric, but after researching and studying Scriptures and Church doctrines, he felt that he had to return to the roots of the Church. Subsequently, he became a Catholic and devoted his life and intellectual talents to teaching and explaining the Catholic faith. That was what he felt was his mission and meaning of his life.
As we reflect on today's readings, we also see two characters who had to struggle with their mission and finding the meaning of their lives. The prophet Jonah tried to avoid his mission but God's call was just too strong to evade.
In the gospel, Jesus portrayed the Samaritan as someone who faced the basic human mission of helping another human being who was in need, and that called for the putting aside of the discrimination and the animosity. So, God has a mission for us, for each one of us. Certainly, each of us has a particular calling to a particular service to God. But let us also not forget our basic human mission, and that is to be a neighbor of love to those in need.
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According to an old Jewish story, a father tells his small son: “I think that God made people because he likes to tell stories and he wanted someone to tell them to.” We have Jesus with us today to tell us the immortal story of the Good Samaritan. Who is my neighbor? Anyone who needs me, whoever he or she may be. And “go and do the same.”
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Prayer: Our God and Father, in signs and stories your Son Jesus made it clear to us that love of you and our neighbor is the heart of the Christian life. Make it indeed clear and obvious to us that anyone in need is our neighbor and that in serving those around us we love and serve you, our Lord and God forever. Amen
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St. Francis of Assisi
(Mt 11:25-30): St. Francis of Assisi is the best
known and the most loved thirteenth century Italian saint. He was born in
Assisi, Italy, the son of a rich merchant. As a carefree young man, he loved
singing, dancing and partying. He joined the military and returned ill, as a
changed man. He marked his conversion by hugging and kissing a leper. While at
prayer in the Church of St. Damiano, he heard the message: “Francis go and
repair my Church because it is falling down.” Francis took the command
literally and got money by selling goods from his father’s warehouse. His
father was furious and publicly disowned and disinherited Francis. Francis
promptly gave back to his father everything except his underclothes and started
living as a free man, wearing sackcloth and begging for food. Possessing
nothing, he started preaching the pure Gospel of Jesus. Strangely enough, a few
youngsters were attracted to Francis’ way of life and joined him.
Pope Innocent III had a vision of Francis supporting the
leaning Church of St. Johns Lateran in Rome. Subsequently, he approved the
Religious Order begun by Francis, namely the Friars Minor [Lesser Brothers]
which practiced Charity as a fourth vow along with Poverty, Chastity and
Obedience. Soon, the Franciscan Order became very popular, attracting large
numbers of committed youngsters. The friars traveled throughout central Italy
and beyond, preaching and invitation to their listeners to turn from the world
to Christ. In his life and preaching, Francis emphasized simplicity and
poverty, relying on God’s providence rather than worldly goods. The brothers
worked, or begged, for what they needed to live, and any surplus was given to
the poor. Francis wrote a more detailed Rule, which was further revised by the
new leaders of the Franciscans. He gave up leadership of the Order and went to
the mountains to live in secluded prayer. There he received the Stigmata, the
wounds of Christ. Francis became partially blind and ill during his last years.
He died at Portiuncula on October 4th, 1226 at the age of 44.
Francis called for simplicity of life, poverty, and humility
before God. In all his actions, Francis sought to follow, fully and literally,
the way of life demonstrated by Christ in the Gospels. Francis loved God’s
gifts to us of nature, animals, and all natural forces, praising God for these
“brothers and sisters.” One of Francis's most famous sermons is one he gave to
a flock of birds during one of his journeys. "From that day on, he
solicitously admonished the birds, all animals and reptiles, and even creatures
that have no feeling, to praise and love their Creator." Francis is well
known for the "Canticle of Brother Sun." Written late in the saint's
life, when blindness had limited his sight of the outside world, the canticle
shows that his imagination was alive with love for God in His creation.
Life messages: 1) Let us learn to practice the spirit of detachment of St. Francis that we may be liberated from our sinful attachments, addictions and evil habits. In poverty one makes oneself available for the Kingdom. Once the goods are no longer one's own, they become available for all. Goods are made to be shared. 2) Let us preach the Good News of Jesus’ love, mercy and forgiveness as St. Francis did, by imbuing the true spirit of the Gospel, loving all God’s creation and leading transparent Christian lives radiating Jesus all around us.
