I really enjoyed reading the works of mythologist Joseph Campbell in graduate school. Campbell asserted that ultimately, it does not matter if a narrative is an historical account or story of fiction. What matters most is that the narrative contain an eternal truth as its foundation. So even though most Catholics think of the Old Testament tale of Jonah is an allegory or myth, as fiction rather than an historical account, the story of Jonah still contains so great truths about God and about faith. Even though some might consider Jonah a tale that would appeal to the imagination of a child, the real message of the book of Jonah gives us a wonderful opportunity to stretch our understanding of God and our salvation.
Back when Jonah was written, most Jews believed that salvation was reserved for them, that the non-Jews were not considered to be a part of God’s plan of salvation. Yet, the message of Jonah is all are welcome to respond to God’s call and to change their ways, that God’s plan of salvation is open to all. This foreshadows what happens in the Early Church, where the first Jewish Christians gradually came to realize that the Gospel call was extended to people everywhere.
For us in this time of Lent, we are reminded in the story of Jonah for our need to repent: to be truly sorry for the wrong we have done and for the good we have failed to do. We are called to reflect upon how we can return to the call of the Gospel. Let us be open to Lent as a time of preparation.
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