3RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR B)—SUNDAY OF THE WORD OF GOD

 

1st Reading       Jonah 3: 1-5. 10

Psalm                 25: 4-5ab. 6 & 7bc. 8-9 (R. 4a)

2nd Reading     1 Corinthians 7: 29-31

Gospel                Mark 1: 14-20

"IN OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD OF THE LORD"

Today, the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B), has been designated as the Sunday of the Word of God by Pope Francis on 30th September 2019 (Memorial of St. Jerome), with the publication of the Motu Proprio "Aperuit Illis" (He opened to them), words taken from Luke 24: 45. This Sunday of the Word of God was instituted to enable all in the Church "to grow in religious and intimate familiarity with the Sacred Scriptures" (no. 15) and "appreciate the inexhaustible riches contained in the constant dialogue between the Lord and his people" (no. 2). In the final analysis, we can agree with St. Jerome, that "Ignorance of Scripture is Ignorance of Christ"

Familiarity with the Word of God, I believe, starts with its possession and faithful obedience to it. The issue of obedience keeps our focus on the infamous story of Jonah, who acted "in obedience to the Word of God" (Jonah 3:3). Although the story has a high Lenten tone, we find it very apt to reflect on on a Sunday designated to the celebration of the Word of God. 

Jonah 3 records Jonah's second reception of the Lord's command to go to Nineveh after he apparently refused the first (Jonah 1: 1-2:11). The first thing that strikes me is the phrase "Word of the Lord," which is mentioned two times in the first reading (v. 1; v. 3). This phrase, which could otherwise be read and understood as the "Command of the Lord," is interesting. This is because whenever we hear such a phrase, it is a call to share in God's saving work. We respond to this call to the Lord's command to help others return to the Lord. The Lord chooses us individually with specific tasks to the extent that we acquaint ourselves with his Word. 

The second detail in the first reading is the glory of Nineveh. Nineveh is being described as "a great city" ('IR GƏDOLAH). What we know about Nineveh is that it is the capital city of Assyria. If we want to know the time the author is writing, then we should be thinking about the times when the Assyrian Empire was ruling (c. 8th Century BCE). However, with the use of was, we understand that the author might be writing at a later time and having the mind of the events of the 8th Century BCE. In Assyria, at the time, there were various people with their distinct religions. The possibility is that the message was directed to Jewish exiles in Nineveh in Assyria. 

Nevertheless, Jonah was sent to Nineveh to preach only what God gave him to say. He was only to expose the "wickedness" (1: 2) of the people. The word used for wickedness is RA'RÂ'ÂH, and it is the same word used to mean EVIL in Genesis 2: 17 when the author spoke about the tree of good and evil. Whenever there is a spot of EVIL, what follows is destruction. This is done to maintain the purity of creation and God’s holiness. The issue now is that the Word of God does not admit of evil and wickedness. What kind of evil and wickedness is referred to? Aside from any kind of evil we may think about, it also concerns moral evil. When we talk about moral evil, we talk about SIN. Sin is now defined in relation to God's law. Obedience to God's law, God's command, drives away SIN. The word of God is a powerful measure for righteous living. We cannot but recall the words of St. Paul to Timothy that "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness" (2 Tim. 3: 16-17).

Finally, focusing on the phrase "the word of the Lord," we are not only reminded about our ascent to the Word of God proclaimed at Liturgical celebrations, but we are also reminded that "in the beginning was the Word" (Jn. 1: 1a). The Gospel according to John openly tells us that "the Word was God" (Jn. 1: 1c). The implication is that if Jonah obeyed the Word of the Lord, then he obeyed God himself and that he proclaimed this same God to the Ninevites. The ultimate end of the Word of God is carrying God to others. In whatever good form, God must be carried to all, believers and non-believers alike. This is our mission. But to give God to others, we need to have him because we cannot give what we do not have.

In all things, if repentance and discipleship must occur, then it lies in obedience to the Word of God. 

Pax et Bonum