27th Week in Ordinary Time
Our Lady of the Rosary

1st Reading: Jon 4:1–11
Gospel: Lk 11:1–4
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” And Jesus said to them, “When you pray, say this:
Father, hallowed be your name, may your kingdom come,
give us each day the kind of bread we need,
and forgive us our sins, for we also forgive all who do us wrong, and do not bring us to the test.”

Commentary
Jonah’s complaint about God’s mercy is unbelievable. As if showing mercy were an imperfection of the divine nature, instead of being God’s greatest glory. It is to God’s pardoning mercy, that we all owe our salvation and happiness. Jonah then wished for death; such was his language of folly, passion, and strong corruption. Jonah neither expected nor desired the welfare of the people of Nineveh; he wanted to watch over their destruction. He wasn’t willing to trust God with the salvation of others. In this frame of mind, he neglected to recognize the glorious mercy of God, of which he had been called to reflect.
We should often remind ourselves how good it is to speak and act with mercy. Is it spiritually healthy to be so angry, so easily and so often, or to give others a taste of our anger? Is it healthy to become angered by God’s mercy towards repenting sinners? That was Jonah’s problem. We do well to be happy, whenever we see God’s mercy in action; it is a sign of the advancement of His kingdom. May the conversion of sinners, which is the joy of heaven, be our own joy and never our grief.

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