• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

The Love that Compels

  • Online Masses
    • Passionist Online Masses and Services
  • 300th Jubilee
    • Opening Mass of the Passionist Jubilee Year
    • Video: 300th Jubilee – English
    • Video: Jubileo Pasionista – Español
    • Jubilee Icon Itinerary
    • Jubilee Resources
    • Jubilee Song
  • Pray
    • Lent 2021
    • Daily Reflections
    • Prayer Request
    • Sunday Homily
    • Passionist Spirituality and Prayer
    • Stations of the Cross
    • Prayer and Seasonal Cards
  • Grow
    • Journey into the Mystery of Christ Crucified
    • Celebrating the Feast of St. Paul of the Cross
    • Subscribe to E-News
    • Passionist Magazine
      • Passionist Magazine, Spring 2020
    • Passionist Ministries
      • Preaching
      • Hispanic Ministry
      • Haiti
      • Parish Life
      • Earth and Spirit Center
      • Education
      • Fr. Cedric Pisegna, CP, Live with Passion!
    • Retreat Centers
    • Passionist Solidarity Network
    • Vision Fulfillment Newsletters
    • Sacred Heart Monastery
      • History of Sacred Heart Monastery
      • A Day in the Life of Senior Passionists
      • “Pillars” of the Community
  • Join
    • Nicholas Divine, CP, Ordination to the Diaconate
    • Are You Being Called?
    • Discerning Your Call
    • Pray With Us
    • Passionist Vocation Directors
    • Lay Partnerships
  • Connect
    • Find a Passionist
    • Passionist Websites
    • Fr. Cedric Pisegna, CP, Live with Passion!
    • Passionist Alumni Association
      • Reunions
      • 2019 Passionist Alumni Reunion
      • Welcome
      • Letter from the Provincial
        • These Men We Call Our Brothers
      • Mission Statement
      • CrossRoads Bulletin
      • Alumni Enrollment Form
        • Alumni Survey
      • Reunion Photo Gallery
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Monthly Giving
    • Leave a Legacy
      • Giving Matters
      • Ways to Give
      • Donor Relations
      • Testimonials
    • Prayer and Seasonal Cards
    • Privacy Policy Statement
  • Learn
    • Our Founder
    • History
    • The Letters of St. Paul of the Cross
    • The Diary of St. Paul of the Cross
    • Mission and Charism
    • Saints and Blesseds
    • FAQs
    • Find a Passionist
    • STUDIES IN PASSIONIST HISTORY AND SPIRITUALITY
  • Safe Environments

Daily Scripture, October 5, 2011

Scripture:

Jonah 4:1-11
Luke 11:1-4

Reflection:

"But the LORD asked, ‘Have you reason to be angry?"

Have you ever been asked to do something you felt wasn’t turning out well or the way that you wanted it to? Or have you ever been in a situation that, no matter how hard you tried, just seemed to keep getting more and more difficult, that seemed to be beyond you but you could’t wriggle out of doing? Welcome to the world of Jonah.

In our first reading today, Jonah has completed the work the Lord asked of him, and, surprise!, it turned out well. At least, according to the Lord. But Jonah is still frustrated. ‘This is exactly what I said would happen,’ he cries, ‘I knew you would relent!’ So he sits to watch and see what will happen. Maybe he will still be justified, and Nineveh will finally get what it deserves. Instead the Lord sends him a gentle lesson using the world of nature. A plant grows over him, sheltering him from the heat, but then quickly dies. Jonah, again disappointed by what is going on around him, says, "I would be better off dead than alive."

The story ends with the Lord explaining to Jonah why his thinking is wrong. But what are we to do when we are faced with situations that we feel are beyond what we are capable of dealing with or turn out in ways we don’t want or expect, when we cry out with Jonah, "I would be better off dead than alive."? We can take the example of Jonah as a starting point and initiate a conversation with God, that is, pray. Is there a better prayer than Jonah’s "take my life from me."?

It took almost 800 years, but God us gave an answer. Joining us in the person of Jesus, God lived through the day-to-day frustrations of life on Earth. Jesus was fully human and so experienced all that we that we do, except sin. This is how He instructed His followers when asked about prayer:

Father, hallowed be your name,
Remember that your relationship with God is as intimate as that of a child and a parent. That your Father’s very name is sacred and that this holiness is your birthright.

your Kingdom come.
Allow God to work through you to create His kingdom here on Earth. Follow His will, not yours.

Give us each day our daily bread
Know that you will be given what you need day by day to accomplish the tasks He sets before you.

and forgive us our sins
Accept His forgiveness for everything you have ever done.

for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us,
And extend that forgiveness to everyone you meet.

and do not subject us to the final test.
And finally know that there is no challenge that you will be given that you cannot accomplish with His help.

Amen.

 

Talib Huff is a volunteer at Christ the King Retreat Center in Citrus Heights, California.

Footer

Facebook Feed

Support the Passionists

Contact the Passionists

The Passionists of Holy Cross Province
660 Busse Highway | Park Ridge, IL 60068
Tel: 847.518.8844 | Toll-free: 800.295.9048 | Fax: 847.518.0461
Safe Environments | Board Member Portal | Copyright © 2021 | Log in