Turnaround in Iraq

In yesterday’s first reading, the prophet Jonah was ordered to go to Iraq (as that part of the world is now called) and tried to desert, only to be captured by the long arm of the Lord.

In today’s first reading (Jonah 3:1-10), the prophet finally obeys orders and meets with spectacular success.

Jonah began his journey through the city,
and had gone but a single day’s walk announcing,
“Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed,”
when the people of Nineveh believed God;
they proclaimed a fast
and all of them, great and small,
put on sackcloth.

Of course, not every act of obedience or every utterance of prophecy will generate such positive results so quickly. Sometimes the good of what we do will be seen only in eternity.

Today’s reading, however, reminds us of what God’s power can do. In this case, a man walking by himself in an enormously large city only has to say one sentence, simple yet enigmatic, and God’s grace of repentance overwhelms every part of the great city.

We ourselves do not know what effect our simple words and acts of obedience may have, but today’s readings reminds us of what can do even with the simplest efforts of his faithful ones.

May we be faithful. May we be never disdainful of doing and saying what seems simple.

May God’s grace flow within us and turn around the hearts of all.