For no sign shall be given this generation except the sign of the prophet Jonah. (Matt 12) The book of Jonah makes no pretense to being historical. It teaches the universality of God’s love, fighting the temptation to fear, harm or dislike the stranger, in this case the Ninevites. Yahweh directs Jonah; up, go to Nineveh and convert them. Jonah gets up, takes a ship and heads for Spain. On the way, the storm, and then the finger points to Jonah as the culprit, over the side with him, the great fish swallows him, brings him back to shore and Yahweh again sends him to Nineveh to convert the people Jonah just doesn’t like. To top it all off the King of the Ninevites, the enemy, submits to his preaching and declares, “All must put on sackcloth and call on God with all their might; and let everyone renounce his evil ways and violent behavior. Who knows? Perhaps God will change his mind and relent and renounce his burning wrath, so that we shall not perish.” So, God did relent, Nineveh was saved and Jonah’s life took a downward spiral. Somehow this story seems, in these days of violence and fear, to be directed to us. We are asked these days to pray and fast, and look to Jesus and Mary for peace in our land and world. Bishop Libasci asks us to pray and fast for atonement, reparation and for a healing peace for us all in the sure and certain hope that God does not disappoint and will count this as a moment of blessing and deepest Mercy. Perhaps He will relent and show us mercy. It might just be that the sign of the prophet Jonah is given to us today as a reminder of obedience to God and love of the stranger. Why not read the book of Jonah and see what it says to you. It is delightful and only four chapters long! Abraham Lincoln at the conclusion of the First Inaugural suggests that we should be directed by the better angels of our nature. Let us call upon our better angels, reform our lives, reach out to the stranger and pray earnestly for peace.

-Fr. Al