Tips for travelers

Both of today’s readings involve travelers who encounter unexpected circumstances and must make critical decisions.

In the first reading (Jonah 1:1-2:1-2,11) we have one set of travelers who are trying to discern a way through a dangerous journey as well as a traveler who has deliberately taken the wrong road and ends up in a watery nightmare.

In the Gospel (Luke 10:25-37) we have different travelers confronted with the same life-and-death situation but make different ethical decisions.

Both of these readings demonstrate the absolute necessity of continually exercising discernment as we go through each day and as we go through our lives.

We certainly need to seek God’s guidance when we are floundering in one of the storms that can occur in our lives, but we also need to seek God’s guidance even in the most mundane of times.

Consider that the priest and the Levite in today’s Gospel were almost certainly in the middle of their commute (probably on their way to work) when they were unexpectedly confronted with the situation and that if they had stopped, they would not have been able to go to work at all and there would have been serious consequences.

Likewise, we need to be continually open to the Lord throughout our day, so that we may not ignore the wounded soul in our path for whom God wants us to be instruments of his love and mercy.

Of course, when we are being overwhelmed by storms in our lives or even when we are in the darkest and most horrible place imaginable (even to the point of feeling like we have been buried alive in the belly of a great fish), we must pray even more fervently and continuously, as did Jonah.

When my soul fainted within me,
I remembered the LORD;
My prayer reached you in your holy temple.

Those who worship vain idols
forsake their source of mercy.

But I, with resounding praise,
will sacrifice to you;
What I have vowed I will pay:
deliverance is from the LORD.