Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: October 8, 2025

Date: Wednesday of the 27^th Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture Text:  Jonah 4:1-11

Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry that God did not carry out the evil he threatened against Nineveh. He prayed, "I beseech you, LORD, is this not 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, loath to punish. And now, LORD, please take my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live." But the LORD asked, "Have you reason to be angry?"

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. 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. But the next morning at dawn God sent a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered.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."

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." 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. 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?"

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

In the first reading for today, we are reminded of the LORD’s mercy. We are also reminded of our human tendency for revenge. Jonah wanted Ninevah to perish because of their sinfulness, but even more because of the impact of their sins on his own life, namely, him being sent to them as the LORD’s messenger, which he did not want to do. But the people of Ninevah did repent, and the LORD showed them mercy.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I hold grudges? Do I exercise mercy as the LORD shows mercy?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, we come to You this day, relying as always upon your great love and your mercy toward us who failed in being people of love for You and for one another always and everywhere. Send your Spirit to stir within us, to rouse within us not only a desire for mercy from You but a desire to forgive others as we ask for forgiveness ourselves. Grant that we may move daily closer to your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, who modeled for us your great love in his selfless sacrifice upon the cross of Calvary. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.