Epiphany

January 18, 2021

Scripture Reading: Jonah 3:1-5, 10
The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, ‘Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.’ So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, ‘Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’ And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them, and he did not do it.

We can seek forgiveness; we can turn around, we can further the presence of God’s Kingdom here today by our actions and our deeds. Self-examination is a great place to start. We must take the beam out of our own eyes before trying to remove them from others. (Matthew 7:5, Luke 6:42)

We also need to listen to the other. We need to hear what is bothering people so much. That starts with engaging with them if relationships do not exist or re-engaging when bonds have been broken. We must patiently lower the tone of discussion. We may need to let others yell at us until they wear themselves out. We might be amazed at what can happen when we lower our own voices rather than speak louder and try to interrupt in response to a loud outburst. Listen to words, not tone, and not anger. I frankly do not understand the source of some people’s consternation. We need to listen to see what the foundation of their rage is.

While I like the idea of preaching a sermon and having everybody get it immediately and change their harmful ways of being as Jonah did, it does not happen often. Road to Damascus experiences happen, but they are not the norm. Loving back to oneness takes strong motivation and generous sharing of love.

Prayer: Lord, empower us to become good listeners and really hear what others are saying. Let your love flow through us and make us one. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.