A Fish Swallowing a Man Whole? | Jonah - "The Lord, his God" | How many days exactly did the people of Nineveh fast? Is this fast the same as Jonah’s fast? | Readings Recommended during Jonah's Fast | Subtly, God Spoke to Jonah | The Sign of the Prophet Jonah | Jonah the Prophet and the Lord Christ | The Prophet Jonah, the Whale, and the Great City of Nineveh | Jonah and Jesus | The Mystery of Jonah | The Flight of Jonah
Some excerpts from the Commentary...
Although it is one of the shortest books of the Old Testament, the Book of
Jonah has a very important place in the Church’s liturgical year. The Church
sees within this book’s simple story an icon of Christ symbolically
represented.
Unlike other prophetic books, the Book of Jonah does not contain “words of
prophecy,” as such, but rather it tells a tale of Jonah’s personal encounter
with the Lord. Using a story motif, Jonah’s prophecy speaks to us not with
words but with symbols. Reading these symbols spiritually, we behold the
mystery of salvation in Christ exemplified in imagistic types. Indeed, it is
no wonder that this book also portrays a unique instance in the Old
Testament of God’s love and concern not just for His own people, Israel, but
for a nation of Gentiles who were actually Israel’s enemies. Here again we
find an archetype of Christ’s mission of salvation extending beyond Israel
to embrace the whole world, all the enemies of God.
On a scriptural canvas painted in symbolic imagery, God presents us with an
icon of Christ in the Book of Jonah. But He also shows us ourselves in the
people of Nineveh, the ship’s mariners, and even Jonah.
Whether in the world or the ark of the Church, whether abject evil-doer or
blessed Saint, we are all of us sinners, perpetually in need of renewal in
the “Sign of Jonah”, the glorious restorative power of the Resurrection in
Baptism.
May God have mercy upon us, be gracious to us, and accept
the fasts of the
Holy Church, as He accepted the fast of the people of Nineveh and spared
them. And may our dear Lord also bless us through the prayers of Jonah, the
great prophet.
Fr. Antonious Henein
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