In today’s first reading Jonah gets angry because God did not carry out the evil he threatened against Nineveh. When Jonah was in discomfort God provides a plant to grow over his head, to comfort him. But the next morning God sends a worm who attacks the plant and the sun blazes over Jonah’s head and again he wishes to die. We want God to take away our discomforts and forgive our sins but we are not ready to forgive our brothers and sisters. We often judge them, condemn them and complain about them whereas God’s heart moves for them with love and compassion. Let us remember that God our loving Father is concerned about our spiritual, emotional, mental and physical well being. Our God is compassionate, merciful and forgiving. When we lose our way, he will once again open the way for us to repent and turn back to him. He will never get tired of coming after us or of waiting for us to return to him. Let us say the prayer that Jesus taught us, that we may love and forgive others just as he loves and forgives us.

Prayer: Abba Father, holy is your name, may your kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.