Homily for 3^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time 2009

Thank you to those who attended the "Walking With Love" session on Saturday morning. As I mentioned last week, "Walking With Love" is an educational program produced by the Australian Bishops inviting us to reflect on ways we might be sensitive to, and support, vulnerable women, married or single, their husbands and families when they face an unexpected or unwanted pregnancy. It is about ensuring that such women do have a choice for life. We will be having a second session next month.

One of the things that strikes me about much of the pro-abortion debate as we hear it in politics or the media is that little time is, in fact, given to the women themselves or their partners in the pregnancy. Particularly their individual struggle with their situation. They get left out. The arguments we hear about abortion are often not really about the morality of abortion itself but about an ideology in which the individual wants are absolute. Any attempts to make a statement from a Christian perspective is heard only as a restriction on women's, so called, rights over their bodies. This makes it difficult for many because we generally do not want to be seen as inflicting our views on others. On the other hand if we listen to people in their own journey we begin to see how so many of the arguments miss the point of what people really need. We may not be able to change government legislation but, by the way we are able to reverence and respect the life journey of people in need we can change the environment that makes destructive policies possible.

So whatever we do in response is, first, about creating a community that walks with love. That has been the agenda of this parish for a number of years. What is our motto? You might remember: "Becoming a community of Jesus' disciples." That means being present to one another in joy and sorrow. It means listening sensitively to each other before acting. Doing that can be very difficult indeed. And it does not mean glossing over problems and conflicts.

The wonderful parable of Jonah is a classic illustration of our predicament. We read a brief summary of the whole story in our first reading today Jonah 3:1-5, 10). Why did Jonah try to run away from God's request to preach to the Ninevites? Mainly because he had all his ideas and prejudices firmly in place. He feared the people of Nineveh who were enemies of the Hebrews. He was not keen to befriend or attempt to save such despised people. Better let them go to their fate. That is what they deserve!

Why do we run away when God calls? For many of the same reasons as Jonah. It is far easier to condemn someone than face one's own prejudice or listen to the real needs of the other who need help. We, like Jonah, like to think we are in control of our lives. The individualism of our society aids that thinking. Yet in spite of everything he did, God's plan was being fulfilled in Jonah. In spite of his best efforts to run one way he ended up going the other.

That was all a painful and terrifying experience for him. He endured shipwreck and was taken by a whale which was ultimately his salvation. Being in the belly of the whale could be a metaphor for him being in the darkness of despair. Just read his prayer of thanksgiving in chapter 2. The "belly of Sheol" or the underworld, was how he described the experience. It is probably a good description of someone who is depressed and fearing for his life. It is good for us to remember that it was in just that dreadful situation that his conversion happened and he was able to go and preach to the Ninevites. Many of our worst experiences are of losing all our securities, all our control, with only pain as a companion, and life seems to fall apart. Then, and often only then it seems, can God get a word in. Time spent in the belly of the whale can be times of growth not death for us. We are spewed out in the end! As God listens to us in our need so we need to listen to each other. Then we help one another to find hope in the darkest of situations because God is there too. This is a resurrection. It is no wonder that Jona's experience in the whale has become a symbol of baptism.

The famous German poet Rainer Maria Rilke wrote a poem that takes up that experience of suffering as being not a fearful place always but also a place where growth can take place.

Sonnets To Orpheus: IV

O you tender ones, walk now and then
into the breath that blows coldly past,
Upon your cheeks let it tremble and part;
behind you it will tremble together again.

O you blessed ones, you who are whole,
you who seem the beginning of hearts,
bows for the arrows and arrows' targets --
tear-bright, your lips more eternally smile.

Don't be afraid to suffer; return
that heaviness to the earth's own weight;
heavy are the mountains, heavy the seas.

Even the small trees you planted as children
have long since become too heavy; you could not
carry them now. But the winds...But the spaces....

Rainer Maria Rilke, German poet, d 1926.

We would like to be as spontaneous and generous as Simon and Andrew, James and John in the choices we make in life as our response to God. But we know we are more like Jonah. However, the brief summary in the Gospel hides the long conversion that those first disciples underwent as well. We know that from the arguments, misunderstandings and betrayals that were to come later. It took them a long time to accept all Jesus was calling them to. It was not because they were perfect that they are now saints. It is because they, like Jonah, experienced God's compassion in the belly of the whale. And they found a new life.

I recommend you read all of the book of Jonah. It is only four short chapters long. It is a great meditation and takes five minutes to read. So small you could miss it.

Fr Graham