DAILY HOMILIES #belly of the fish

Jonah’s experience, including how his ship almost sank and how he had to spend three days inside the belly of a great fish, is a classic example of what we suffer when we live only for ourselves. In the Gospel passage, Jesus teaches us to be kind and generous to everyone, regardless of their background or identity. He offers us a universal definition of neighbour that is not restricted by race, colour, religion, or physical borders.

It beats my mind that Jonah didn’t even ask them to repent. He didn’t say “change your evil ways. Be good children of God. Stop sinning, etc.” Jonah just went about the city announcing doom and destruction: “Only forty days from now and Nineveh would be destroyed…”