"Who is she that comes forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in battle array?" - Song of Songs 6:10
Jonah said to them [the pagans], "Pick me up and throw me into the sea, that it may quiet down for you; since I know it is because of me that this violent storm has come upon you." (Jonah 1:12)
Sometimes thing happened to us and we wondered “why me?” but it was not in the case of Jonah. The Lord said to Jonah, "Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and preach against it; their wickedness has come up before me." Jonah, who worshiped the God of sea and dry land, refused God’s invitation and tried to flee from God on the open sea. The LORD, however, hurled a violent wind upon the sea, and in the furious tempest that arose the ship was on the point of breaking up. Then the mariners became frightened and each one cried to his god. So they cast lots, and thus singled out Jonah. "Tell us," they said, "what is your business? Where do you come from? What is your country, and to what people do you belong?" Jonah answered them, "I am a Hebrew, I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land." Now the men were seized with great fear and said to him, "How could you do such a thing! – They knew that he was fleeing from the LORD, because he had told them.– They asked, "What shall we do with you, that the sea may quiet down for us?" For the sea was growing more and more turbulent. When the Pagan sailors finally threw Jonah over board, the storm abated. But the LORD sent a large fish, that swallowed Jonah; and Jonah remained in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. From the belly of the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD, then the LORD commanded the large fish to spew bring Jonah back to dry land. When God calls your or gently speaks to you in the depth of your conscience, what do you do? Have you ever tried to ignore or ran away from God? Why?
I run because I’m scared? I run because I’m prideful or rebellious? I run because I’ve been hurt many times? I run because I believe the “lie” that God’s presence is not what is best for me?
I invite you to pray this prayer and place your trust that God does and respond with love when we are called upon Him. R. (cf. 7) You will rescue my life from the pit, O Lord.
Out of my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me; From the midst of the nether world I cried for help, and you heard my voice. R. You will rescue my life from the pit, O Lord.
For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the sea, and the flood enveloped me; All your breakers and your billows passed over me. R. You will rescue my life from the pit, O Lord.
Then I said, "I am banished from your sight! yet would I again look upon your holy temple." R. You will rescue my life from the pit, O Lord.
When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the LORD; My prayer reached you in your holy temple. R.. You will rescue my life from the pit, O Lord. (Jonah 2:3, 4, 5, 8)