What shall we do about Nineveh?

Thursday, October 19, 2006 -- Week of Proper 23 (Henry Martyn)

"Morning Reflections" is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117
An online resource for praying the Daily Office is found at www.missionstclare.com
Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this location -- http://explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/index.html

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (p. 989)
Psalm 18:1-20 (morning) // 18:21-50 (evening)
Jonah 3:1 - 4:11
Acts 27:27-44
Luke 9:18-27

Jesus: "What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves?"

Jonah: "This is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing."

Today we finish the wonderful little book of Jonah. Jonah's preaching mission to Nineveh was "successful." The people (and even the animals) repented, and God "changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it."

Jonah is furious. Angry enough to die. He hates Nineveh and the Ninevites. He wants them destroyed. They are Israel's ancient enemies. Twice their armies invaded and violently attacked Israel. He wants them destroyed not reconciled.

This book was written during a time of resurgent Jewish nationalism. It was a time when borders were being sealed to prevent the immigration of non-Jewish people and when marriages with non-Jews were being pressured. In that context, Jonah was protest literature (along with Ruth; written about the same time). The books of Jonah and Ruth dared to speak compassionately about Israel's enemies and about non-Jews. Such speech was considered unpatriotic, if not sedicious and treasonous. But time has proved their words to be inspired and blessed.

A word about Nineveh, the great Assyrian capital. Today it is the city of Mosul in Iraq. Mosul has had a large Kurdish population and a recent history of conflict between Kurds and Sunni Arabs. There are valuable oil fields nearby. Many of Saddam Hussein's military leaders were from Mosul, and his sons Uday and Qusay were killed there. After the destruction of Fallujah, the Sunni police force resigned and turned the city over to Sunni militia insurgents. U.S. and Kurd forces retook the city and there has been occasional conflict since. You may remember the suicide bomb at the base dining hall where 14 U.S. soldiers, 4 U.S. Halliburton employees and 4 Iraqis were killed. We might expect Mosul to be in future news reports from Iraq from time to time as the violence is continuing to escalate. What should we do about Nineveh?

Today is the feast of Henry Martyn, an English priest who translated the Book of Common Prayer into Hindi while he was in India and translated the New Testament into Persian while in Iran. He is warmly remembered as one of the modern founders of the church in India and Iran.

In our gospel reading today Jesus reveals that he is the Messiah. He sternly tells his disciples not to tell anyone. He knows his mission would be misinterpreted. Everyone was waiting for a conquering Messiah who would defeat Israel's foes and force the Romans out of their occupation. Jesus redefined the meaning of Messiah. "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me."

Henry Martyn was one of those who eagerly embraced that mission. Jonah, not so eagerly. And history is filled with those who believe their problems are to be solved by violence rather than by following the way of the cross of Jesus or by following the God whom Jonah resented because he knew God to be "a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing."

Lowell
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The Rev. Lowell Grisham
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, AR