January 23, 2009
First Reading : Jona 3,1-5.10 ;
Psalm 25(24),4-5.6-7.8-9. ;
Second Reading: Kor 7,29-31.
Gospel: Mark 1,14-20
Points for Sermon:
About Nineveh:
- Nineveh, was a great and Populous city of the Assyrian Empire.
- Flourishing Capital too.
- Uniting place between West and East through the Harbour.
- That was a reason of Wealth in Neneveh.
- Because of the many “travellers”, there were different cultures and many religious beliefs.
- “tolerance to religion” was seen there, which is “not acceptable to Judean Theology”. – YHWH alone is the God!
- May be because of that, “Jonahs call to repentence was easliy heard” ???
( – In the history, we see that Nineveh was totally destroyed, without any remains.)
About Jonah:
Jonah has two characters.
1. Missionary to Nineveh.:
In this part of today’s reading Jonah appears very quite and willing Missionary. But analysing the other parts of the book of Jonah, we will get a total picture of him. Jonah was not a prophet who really liked to preach in Nineveh.
Reasons:
a.Nineveh doesn’t belongs to YHWH. They had their own gods.
b. Jonah had no compassion to human beings. He didn’t like their “salvation”. That is why he is angry with God, after the People repented. YHWH shows he is a God of Compassion and God of all, by being merciful to Ninevites. ( also the story of the tree…which occurs later)
c. Jonah goes to wrong direction. Called to go for Nineveh, but he goes for Tarshish. Tarshish stands for his rebellious mood, going away from God’s plan. – Going his own way.
d. Jonah knows that the “gods” are powerful in their own “lands” they have no power outside the territorry. Jonah underestimate the power of YHWH and thinks YHWH has no power in the Sea and in Tarshish. But YHWH prooves he is “OMNIPRESENT”
2. “Son of Man”:
In the bible this words has 2 applications.
a. one who is weak and frail. Human weekness is mentined here.
b. Jesus himself takes this “adjective” to show that he is one among the human. That doesn’t mean that he is a “sinner”. It is to mention the humility of GOD.
- in the case of Jonah, he was really a “Son of Man” – with all the weakness, and frialities.
Jonah represents many of us.
- we argue with God,
- go our own ways,
- we doubt the power of God,
- sometimes shows no compassiion to other.
Message:- We are called to fulfull the mission of God. We have no personal mission in the proclamation. Mission is given by God, to work for His Kingdom, to Proclaim his Reign of Love. We are only “missonaries” =”Apostolos” =”Messenger”.
Jesus calls his disciples for this intention- to be his Messengers. We should not change his Mission and Message.
What we can do is, bring the Goodnews filled with Hope and Joy and Love and Compassion.
Psalm 25(24),4-5.6-7.8-9. ;
Second Reading: Kor 7,29-31.
Gospel: Mark 1,14-20
Points for Sermon:
About Nineveh:
- Nineveh, was a great and Populous city of the Assyrian Empire.
- Flourishing Capital too.
- Uniting place between West and East through the Harbour.
- That was a reason of Wealth in Neneveh.
- Because of the many “travellers”, there were different cultures and many religious beliefs.
- “tolerance to religion” was seen there, which is “not acceptable to Judean Theology”. – YHWH alone is the God!
- May be because of that, “Jonahs call to repentence was easliy heard” ???
( – In the history, we see that Nineveh was totally destroyed, without any remains.)
About Jonah:
Jonah has two characters.
1. Missionary to Nineveh.:
In this part of today’s reading Jonah appears very quite and willing Missionary. But analysing the other parts of the book of Jonah, we will get a total picture of him. Jonah was not a prophet who really liked to preach in Nineveh.
Reasons:
a.Nineveh doesn’t belongs to YHWH. They had their own gods.
b. Jonah had no compassion to human beings. He didn’t like their “salvation”. That is why he is angry with God, after the People repented. YHWH shows he is a God of Compassion and God of all, by being merciful to Ninevites. ( also the story of the tree…which occurs later)
c. Jonah goes to wrong direction. Called to go for Nineveh, but he goes for Tarshish. Tarshish stands for his rebellious mood, going away from God’s plan. – Going his own way.
d. Jonah knows that the “gods” are powerful in their own “lands” they have no power outside the territorry. Jonah underestimate the power of YHWH and thinks YHWH has no power in the Sea and in Tarshish. But YHWH prooves he is “OMNIPRESENT”
2. “Son of Man”:
In the bible this words has 2 applications.
a. one who is weak and frail. Human weekness is mentined here.
b. Jesus himself takes this “adjective” to show that he is one among the human. That doesn’t mean that he is a “sinner”. It is to mention the humility of GOD.
- in the case of Jonah, he was really a “Son of Man” – with all the weakness, and frialities.
Jonah represents many of us.
- we argue with God,
- go our own ways,
- we doubt the power of God,
- sometimes shows no compassiion to other.
Message:- We are called to fulfull the mission of God. We have no personal mission in the proclamation. Mission is given by God, to work for His Kingdom, to Proclaim his Reign of Love. We are only “missonaries” =”Apostolos” =”Messenger”.
Jesus calls his disciples for this intention- to be his Messengers. We should not change his Mission and Message.
What we can do is, bring the Goodnews filled with Hope and Joy and Love and Compassion.
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