THE BOOK OF JONAH

INTRODUCTION

This will be an information homily - simply ten thoughts  and  comments about “The Book of Jonah.”

I’m doing this because today’s first reading for this  27th Tuesday in Ordinary Time - is from the Book of Jonah.  Today’s gospel is a story about Martha and Mary - but I’ll save that  for some other day.

SO 10 COMMENTS ABOUT THE BOOK OF JONAH

First: We get 5 readings from Jonah in our Lectionary. That’s this red book that contains the  Mass readings.  Every other year we get these 3 readings we have this week. Then we get a reading from Jonah in Lent and another one on the 3^rd  Sunday in Year  B. That’s it. But that’s not bad for a short document - only 4 chapters in the Jewish Bible

Second: The one thing everyone remembers and wonders about the Book of Jonah  is that he’s tossed into the sea - is swallowed by a big fish and then spends 3 days in the belly of that big fish. It’s quite a fish story.  Do we take that literally? Artists love to picture this scene. Writers on the Bible often bring up the question of Jonah being in the belly of the beast.

Third: This document has various literary forms in it - which makes it quite unique. It is satire.  It has legends. It can be seen as a parable. It has some wisdom literature in it.  It’s a prophetic book - Jonah is a preacher and a prophet. It has some history and facts: there was a city named Nineveh.  So it’s mixed bag - a little of this and a little of that in a little space.

Fourth: He preaches not to Israel - but to the Assyrians. That’s different. He’s a universalist  - different from most of the other prophets - who preach mainly to and at Israel. Jonah doesn’t seem concerned about these foreigners - but God does.

Fifth: He is not the greatest of the prophets. In fact a book written about him is entitled, ‘The Reluctant Prophet.” When God calls him to go this way, he gets on a boat and goes the other way.

Sixth: He is the most successful of the prophets - the Ninevites in 6 figures - repent - yet in reality history tells us that Nineveh was badly destroyed as a city.

Seventh: As prophet he appears as a very mixed up prophet. He runs away from God. He yells at God - yet in the long run - after the everything - he still sticks with God.

Eight: It’s date varies. It writes about the 8^th  century B.C. - but it was probably written in the 5th  century B.C.

Ninth: His stories remain and work their way into Christian scriptures - in wonderings about Jesus - and his resurrection. I think it was the 3 days in the belly of the whale or big fish and the 3 days in the grave - that is the obvious connection

Tenth: It stresses the mercy and forgiveness of God - much more than the justice of God - with people being punished.

CONCLUSION

I don’t know how many people I’ve heard say, “I have to read the Bible.”  I like to suggest, “Think just one book at a time.” 

Think the Book of Jonah and with these 10 thoughts in mind, come up with your thoughts and comments about the Book of Jonah - and type into Google, “Book of Jonah” for further observations.