“When our hearts are reluctant we often have to compel ourselves to pray for our enemies and to pour out prayer for those who are against us. Would that our hearts were filled with love!” (St. Gregory the Great)
It’s the story of the prophet Jonah. Prophets are those who hear the word of God and proclaim the tidings to the people. They also are God’s students. They too have to learn what the Lord’s will is. Sometimes they pay an enormous tuition for the tutorial.
Jonah was sent to Nineveh, the capitol of his people’s greatest enemy, the nation that annihilated Israel in 721. He chose not to obey the Lord—after all, they don’t deserve God’s mercy, do they? The prophet himself received the blessings and grace of the Almighty, but this is different. What’s he going to tell them—repent? Will they? They are ferocious savages. So Jonah decided to go west instead. In fact, he booked passage on a ship that he hoped would take him as far as Spain. In those days it was considered the end of the world.
You know the rest of the story. A hurricane swelled up. The ship was out of control, the crew was beside itself, and the man of God realized what was happening. “Toss me overboard,” he cried. “At least your lives will be spared.” So they did, and a great sea monster caught Jonah and deposited him on the shore from whence he came.
I am thinking now of Jonah and the lesson of mercy and love that the Lord God taught him. I too need such a lesson. For weeks I have been obsessed with the vision of the tragedy in the Russian town of Beslan, and the terrorists who planned and executed their version of American’s 9/11 catastrophe. Thirty-three Chechens invaded the school on the opening day and brutally intimidated, humiliated and ultimately killed 320 of the teachers, faculty, parents and students. You can imagine what it was like for the youngsters, especially those entering the schoolhouse for the first time in their lives. Unlike here in America, the girls wear huge white satin ribbons atop their heads, boys dress up like little men, and the whole experience is designed to make it a lifelong memory in their young lives. They meet teachers for the first time and try to suppress their enthusiasm at coming of the age of learning.
Then imagine how it all came to a crashing end. Wild people in flak jackets wearing black masks waving weapons dashing about screaming directives and barking orders intended to frighten and intimidate the living lambs who are herded to the gymnasium and told to remain there in nearly 100 degree temperature without food, water, or even means of going to the rest rooms.
The chief architect of the holocaust, Shamil Basayev, proudly accepts accolades for his feat. It’s considered by his ilk as a grand coup, a glorious achievement against the people and President of Russia.
How do we pray for him? With what words do we lift our petitions for his salvation, his welfare, and his place among the people of God? Not that he wants my prayers. I’m an infidel in his eyes, as well as those of his cohorts. But what of me? What of us? Is it not our Master’s will that we pray for our enemies? I’m an American, and I am called to pray for bin Laden and his followers as well.
Perhaps as a start we might beseech the prayers of the saint and prophet, Jonah. It may help to soften our hearts if we read the book in the Bible attributed to him, and beg our loving Lord Jesus to guide us in the comprehension of Jonah’s lesson without having to endure the water and sea monster ordeal.