22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time 2024

Despite our best efforts, the ubiquitous influence of our culture can hardly be kept out of our lives. The messages of relativism, self-centeredness, and utilitarian relationships permeate virtually every form of communication and so-called entertainment. Radio, newspapers, the ever-present internet, TV shows all carry the subtle and not-so-subtle messages of a world view without a God perspective—not to mention the commercials! There are days when my household would love to pack it in, move to a remote hilltop, store up some food and water and retreat. Retreat is the right word, but is that what Jesus calls us to do?

Jonah was a righteous man. But his righteousness became just that—his righteousness. He fell into the trap of judging himself worthy by comparing himself to those around him he deemed less "godly" than he. For what's it worth, it’s probably safe to assume that there will always be those around us with characters better and worse than ours, so why bother judging at all? Paul states that he "did not even judge himself", so why would we get into the comparison trap? Regardless, Jonah found himself one day standing at a safe distance, viewing Ninevah, waiting for God to smite "those" sinners with fire and brimstone. But what happened? Rather than smite them and show His justice, God instead directed Jonah to be the messenger of His mercy. Needless to say, Jonah was disappointed (totally bummed is more like it!) at God interrupting what would have been an awesome display of His power as he destroyed the city. But then to direct Jonah to deliver the absolute last message Jonah wanted to bring to the inhabitants of these two cities—God’s mercy and an invitation to repent and turn back to God—well, he'd rather spend time in the belly of a whale! He got his wish!

Our own culture sadly resembles the Ninevah of Jonah’s day. No need here to document the many ills of our society. The question simply is would Jesus have been standing on the hill next to Jonah waiting for the fireworks to start, or would He have been walking the streets of Nineveh reaching out to the "worst of sinners" with a message of love and mercy? Just ask Matthew the tax collector, or Zacchaeus, or the woman at the well, or the woman caught in adultery (where was the guy she was caught with anyway?)

The challenge we have is to nurture our children and protect their innocence, while at the same time modeling a life which reaches out to the lost—those in most need of His grace. Many of us are involved in acts of mercy—giving to the poor, visiting the sick, comforting the grieving; but, what about those who are truly caught in the grip of evil or at least blinded by the Deceiver into ignoring God, living as practical atheists/agnostics? Mother Theresa, herself known for acts of mercy, spoke often of "seeing Jesus in His distressing disguise". She saw Jesus suffering in the eyes of a starving child, the outcast leper, the ostracized AIDS victim. These circumstances cry out for someone to touch them with love and mercy; but, what about those around us with less discernible crosses? The single mother struggling to raise her children under the burdens of time and poverty, the workaholic neighbor who sees his self-worth solely in his career and entrapments of materialism, the teenager alienated from his parents, crying out for someone to validate his worth by listening to him.

Certainly, living the Christian life should be attractive to those around us; but, perhaps we need to be close enough to them so they can not only see Jesus from a distance, but feel His touch, hear His voice, and experience the kind of look the rich young man saw in Mark 10. I can see Jesus as He felt the young man's inner struggle. What did Jesus do? He got close enough to his potential disciple to look deep into his eyes. Jesus "looked at him, and loved him and said, 'Give what you have to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven and, come, follow me.'" What was it about that look of Jesus that communicated His profound love for this young man? How wise and gracious of Jesus to profoundly and activelylove this young man just as He was about to issue the biggest challenge of this young man's life. First the love—then the challenge.



We are surrounded by those who long for someone to look at them and love them—and then issue the invitation to follow Jesus. Let us not shrink back in fear or judgment from those around us masquerading in their modern day "distressing disguise". Let us instead show the world how love is an action word and the gospel a living, dynamic force of grace in a world in need of His look of love, touch of mercy, voice of comfort, and embrace of healing.