- Prayer and Worship - Beliefs and Teachings - Issues and Action
- Catholic Giving - About USCCB The story of Jonah has great
theological import. It concerns a disobedient prophet who
rejected his divine commission, was cast overboard in a storm
and swallowed by a great fish, rescued in a marvelous manner,
and returned to his starting point. Now he obeys and goes to
Nineveh, the capital of Israel’s ancient enemy. The Ninevites
listen to his message of doom and repent immediately. All, from
king to lowliest subject, humble themselves in sackcloth and
ashes. Seeing their repentance, God does not carry out the
punishment planned for them. At this, Jonah complains, angry
because the Lord spares them. This fascinating story caricatures
a narrow mentality which would see God’s interest extending only
to Israel, whereas God is presented as concerned with and
merciful to even the inhabitants of Nineveh (4:11), the capital
of the Assyrian empire which brought the Northern Kingdom of
Israel to an end and devastated Jer