Monday – Twenty-seventh Week – OT1

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Monday – Twenty-seventh Week – OT1

Readings: Jon 1:1-2:2; Lk 10:25-37.

Reading 1 (Jon 1:1-2:2):

This is the word of the LORD that came to Jonah, son of Amittai:

“Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and preach against it;
their wickedness has come up before me.”
But Jonah made ready to flee to Tarshish away from the LORD.
He went down to Joppa, found a ship going to Tarshish,
paid the fare, and went aboard to journey with them to Tarshish,
away from the LORD.

The LORD, however, hurled a violent wind upon the sea,
and in the furious tempest that arose
the ship was on the point of breaking up.
Then the mariners became frightened and each one cried to his god.
To lighten the ship for themselves, they threw its cargo into the sea.
Meanwhile, Jonah had gone down into the hold of the ship,
and lay there fast asleep.
The captain came to him and said, “What are you doing asleep?
Rise up, call upon your God!
Perhaps God will be mindful of us so that we may not perish.”

Then they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots
to find out on whose account we have met with this misfortune.”
So they cast lots, and thus singled out Jonah.
“Tell us,” they said, ‘what is your business?
Where do you come from?
What is your country, and to what people do you belong?”
Jonah answered them, “I am a Hebrew,
I worship the LORD, the God of heaven,
who made the sea and the dry land.”

Now the men were seized with great fear and said to him,
“How could you do such a thing!”
They knew that he was fleeing from the LORD,
because he had told them.”
They asked, “What shall we do with you,
that the sea may quiet down for us?”
For the sea was growing more and more turbulent.
Jonah said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,
that it may quiet down for you;
since I know it is because of me
that this violent storm has come upon you.”

Still the men rowed hard to regain the land, but they could not,
for the sea grew ever more turbulent.
Then they cried to the LORD: “We beseech you, O LORD,
let us not perish for taking this man’s life;
do not charge us with shedding innocent blood,
for you, LORD, have done as you saw fit.”
Then they took Jonah and threw him into the sea,
and the sea’s raging abated.
Struck with great fear of the LORD,
the men offered sacrifice and made vows to him.

But the LORD sent a large fish, that swallowed Jonah;
and Jonah remained in the belly of the fish
three days and three nights.
From the belly of the fish Jonah prayed
to the LORD, his God.

Gospel (Lk 10:25-37):

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said,
“Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law?
How do you read it?”
He said in reply,
“You shall love the Lord, your God,
with all your heart,
with all your being,
with all your strength,
and with all your mind,
and your neighbor as yourself.”
He replied to him, “You have answered correctly;
do this and you will live.”

But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus,
“And who is my neighbor?”
Jesus replied,
“A man fell victim to robbers
as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho.
They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead.
A priest happened to be going down that road,
but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
Likewise a Levite came to the place,
and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him
was moved with compassion at the sight.
He approached the victim,
poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them.
Then he lifted him up on his own animal,
took him to an inn, and cared for him.
The next day he took out two silver coins
and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction,
“Take care of him.
If you spend more than what I have given you,
I shall repay you on my way back.”
Which of these three, in your opinion,
was neighbor to the robbers? victim?”
He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.”


I. THEME: We must do what God commands.

            Religion is the way which shows followers how-to live-in order to be happy and at peace. Catholicism is not pure thought; but includes all obligations a Christian must do to live his relationship with God and others. There are Christians who knew a lots about God and His teachings; but did not practice what He taught. This knowledge will be evidences against them. In opposition, there are many who don’t know or only know little about God, practiced what they know. God loves those who practice His words more than those who only know about Him.

            Today readings warn all prophets, priests, and God’s people: not to believe God only with their mouth; but also to fear God and to practice what He commands. In the first reading, Jonah was commanded by God to preach at Nineveh, to call them to repent and returning to God’s way. Jonah refused to do that, he fled to another city to avoid to do what God has commanded. The reason is that he wanted God to destroy Nineveh because they were the Israelites’ enemies. In the Gospel, when the Pharisees asked Jesus what they have to do to inherit the eternal life, Jesus emphasized the love for God and the compassion for people. Jesus gave them an example to let them know that while a priest and a Levite found excuses to avoid having compassion, a gentile Samaritan sincerely practiced what God wants.

II. ANALYSES:

1/ Reading I: “We beseech you, O Lord, let us not perish for taking this man’s life.”

1.1/ The prophet Jonah did not obey God: “The Lord said to Jonah, son of Amittai: “Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and preach against it; their wickedness has come up before me.” But Jonah made ready to flee to Tarshish away from the Lord. He went down to Joppa, found a ship going to Tarshish, paid the fare, and went aboard to journey with them to Tarshish, away from the Lord.”

            How could Jonah flee from the Lord? God “hurled a violent wind upon the sea, and in the furious tempest that arose the ship was on the point of breaking up. Then the mariners became frightened and each one cried to his god. To lighten the ship for themselves, they threw its cargo into the sea. Meanwhile, Jonah had gone down into the hold of the ship, and lay there fast asleep.
The captain came to him and said, “What are you doing asleep? Rise up, call upon your God! Perhaps God will be mindful of us so that we may not perish.” Then they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots to find out on whose account we have met with this misfortune.” So they cast lots, and thus singled out Jonah. “Tell us,” they said, ‘what is your business? Where do you come from? What is your country, and to what people do you belong?” Jonah answered them, “I am a Hebrew, I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”

1.2/ Two opposite reactions: Jonah knows well who is the Lord and fear Him; but he disobeyed Him and was finding a way to avoid Him; while the sailors on the ship did not know God, but only heard about Him from Jonah, they already feared Him.

            (1) Jonah’s reaction: The reason why Jonah disobeyed God because he believed God is good and compassionate. He thought if he goes and preaches, the Ninevites will repent and God will stop His punishment on them. Jonah wanted God to destroy them because they are the Israelites’ enemies.

            (2) The reactions of sailors: After the captains and sailors knew with certain Jonah is the cause of the furious storm, and they were given a permission by Jonah to cast him out to the sea

in order for them to be safe, they were still reluctant to do so. They were afraid to destroy the life of God’s prophet. Before casting Jonah out of the ship, they prayed to the Lord and said: “We beseech you, O Lord, let us not perish for taking this man’s life; do not charge us with shedding innocent blood, for you, Lord, have done as you saw fit.”

2/ Gospel: Go and do the same!

2.1/ What must I do to inherit the etermal life? This is a very important and practical question in life, and the questioner is a scribe. Though he already knew the answer, but he still tried to test Jesus. Instead of giving him the answer, Jesus asked him: “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.” This answer is gotten by putting together the Deuteronomy 6:5 and the Leviticus 19:18. Later, Jesus abbreviated this answer by saying, “Love God and people.”

2.2/ Who is my neighbor? Although the distance between Jesusalem and Jericho is only about 20 miles, but the altitude between two cities are about 3,600 ft. This is a very dangerous road because of its narrow way and many rocky caves and bushes, hidden places of robbers. Not many people dare to travel alone on this road. The beaten one might be a Jew because he traveled from Jerusalem down. Jesus listed out three kinds of people and their different reactions when they saw him.

            (1) A priest: He must be a Jew. The reason why he avoided the beaten might be because he will be unclean in seven days if he touched him and cannot serve in the Temple (Num 19:11). He regarded his service in the Temple above his compassion for the needed. He passed by on the opposite side.

            (2) A Levite: He must also be a Jew. Levites’ duty is to serve in the Holy Place. Like a priest, he might fear that he will become unclean if he touched the half-dead. So, he passed by on the opposite side.

            (3) Samaritans are the Jews’ enemies; they don’t want to share anything in common. When he saw the half-dead, he did not care if he is a Jew or not. He had a human compassion between a man and one in need. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, “Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.”

2.3/ Jesus’ question: “Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Then Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.”

III. APPLICATION IN LIFE:                     

            – We should not only bear the name of a Christian, but must practice what God has commanded: Love God above all and love others as ourselves.

            – The one who did not know God can enter heaven before us, if they lived a good life, love and serve others, and had no opportunity to learn about God. We could miss the eternal life if we did not obey God’s commandment and help others.Save

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