Wallowing

We worldly wanderers wallow.

We wallow in self-pity.

We wallow in depression.

We wallow in anger and resentment.

We wallow in ourselves.

In today’s first reading (Jonah 4:1-11), Jonah is wallowing big-time.

He is angry and depressed about the salvation of the Ninevites.

It seems stupid to be angry and depressed about other people receiving God’s mercy, for none of us would have any hope at all if God were not generous in his mercy.

Yet are we not ourselves sometimes resentful of God’s graces in other people?

Then Jonah is angry and depressed about the loss of a shade plant.

This too seems so silly to us, and yet – if we just take a step back from ourselves – we can see how silly and petty are some of the things that make us angry and depressed.

It is easy for us, like Jonah, to become too focused on ourselves and problems that sometimes seem overwhelming.

It is important for us, with the help of God’s grace, to try to see things through God’s eyes and to take renewed courage and strength from the fact that ultimately “all things work for good for those who love God” (Romans 8:28a).

We must not wallow.

We must love and trust and follow the Lord.