First Reading
Jonah 4:1-11
1 Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry that God did not carry out the evil he threatened against Nineveh. 2 He prayed, “I beseech you, Lord, is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? This is why I fled at first to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger, rich in clemency, loathe to punish. 3 And now, Lord, please take my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.” 4 But the Lord asked, “Have you reason to be angry?” 5 Jonah then left the city for a place to the east of it, where he built himself a hut and waited under it in the shade, to see what would happen to the city. 6 And when the Lord God provided a gourd plant, that grew up over Jonah’s head, giving shade that relieved him of any discomfort, Jonah was very happy over the plant. 7 But the next morning at dawn God sent a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. 8 And when the sun arose, God sent a burning east wind; and the sun beat upon Jonah’s head till he became faint. Then Jonah asked for death, saying, “I would be better off dead than alive.” 9 But God said to Jonah, “Have you reason to be angry over the plant?” “I have reason to be angry,” Jonah answered, “angry enough to die.” 10 Then the Lord said, “You are concerned over the plant which cost you no labor and which you did not raise; it came up in one night and in one night it perished. 11 And should I not be concerned over Nineveh, the great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot distinguish their right hand from their left, not to mention the many cattle?”
Father in heaven,
You are a gracious God! Merciful and kind, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.
All that is happening in my life today are blessings that come from You alone. I praise and thank You so much for the countless blessings that make us live healthy, comfortably, peacefully, and fully secured.
Please forgive me for the times when I tend to forget that blessings are not products of hard work done by me but was freely given by You without any cost. The truth is, there is no profitable work to be done if You choose and decide not to give me any business.
In a special way, I humbly ask for Your mercy and forgiveness for all of us who have sinned because of anger and pride. Have pity on your children Lord who still do not know the goodness of Your works done in them. May You forever be the love of our lives, making our joy full and complete through Christ.
Not my will but Yours be done. As always, I completely surrender all works at hand to You through Christ in whom all good things come.
With much love and thanksgiving, I humbly pray in Jesus Name.
Amen.
Published:
October 11, 2023, 9:18 AM