Posted on October 15, 2012 by Fr. Bertrand Buby, S. M.
St. Teresa of Avila
Scripture: Lectionary 467 Mon. Oct.15. Galatians 4:22-24.5:1. Psalm 113: 1-2,3-4, 5.6-7. Luke 11:29-32.
Jonas is mentioned only nine times in the New Testament; five times in Matthew and four times in Luke. Both are pronouncement sayings of Jesus but each has its own purpose. In Matthew 12:38-42 and Luke 11:29-32 which is our Gospel passage for today. Matthew orients the pronouncement toward the Resurrection; Luke toward a spirit of conversion. Matthew?s application is more typological and symbolical while Luke gives us the main point that the little book of Jonah centers upon. It shows that the prophet must preach repentance, but he was more concerned about himself. Nevertheless, he speaks out the call of repentance to the Ninevites and every living creature ?repents in sackcloth and ashes.?
Conversion (metanoia) and repentance are prophetic demands. This is more important than associating prophets with telling the future.
Jesus is showing through the example given in the book of Jonah (just four chapters) that his own preaching of repentance is necessary for entrance into the kingdom of God. Like the prophet Jonah, Jesus extends this call to all peoples through both the Ninevites as in Jonah and then through the Queen of Ethiopia of the south. The universalism of Luke shines through this passage. We are all called to conversion and repentance. In fact, if we look at Jesus? words in Mark, he first calls us to ?repent and believe the Gospel!?
We do not forget how Matthew applies this book to the resurrection of Jesus as a sign Jesus gives his listeners. To believe in the Resurrection we must first be converted and have a change of mind and?heart so that our faith may lead us to believe in Jesus? promise of the resurrection.
Repentance and a daily renewal of conversion is necessary to develop our own spiritual life. Spirituality is a day by day process, hopefully, each day should make us a little better in responding to Jesus and the Gospel. We are to take one step at a time while moving forward not backward. Recalling the Presence of God, living in the present moment, and listening to Jesus help us to follow him on the road to Jerusalem where we will enter into the mystery of his sufferings, death, and resurrection. The basics of the spiritual life are within the Paschal Mystery. All the rest is simply commentary. Amen.
About Fr. Bertrand Buby, S. M., Author Of This Post
Father Bertrand Buby, S.M. obtained his licentiate in Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute and his doctorate in Marian Theology from the International Marian Research Institute at the University of Dayton and is professor emeritus for the Religious Studies Department of the University of Dayton. He has taught Scripture and Marian theology and presently teaches Scripture at the Inernational Marian Institute (I.M.R.I). He is the author of the trilogy MARY OF GALILEE, and also of Mary Faithful Disciple, With a Listening Heart (Pslam commentary), a commentary on the Book of Revelation. Fr. Buby was past president of the Mariological Society of America and has written articles for the marian journal called Marian Studies. He is a member of the Pontifical International Marian Academy (P.A.M.I.) and lives with ten other Marianists near the University of Dayton. Vist marypage.org. for more information.
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