October 11th, 2003.

Wednesday of the 27th week in ordinary time.

A reading from the book of the prophet Jonah.

Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry that God did not carry out the evil he threatened

against Nineveh. He prayed, I beseech you, Lord. Is not this what I said while I was still in my own

country? This is why I fled at first to Tarshish. I knew that you are gracious and merciful God,

slow to anger, rich in clemency, loath to punish. And now, Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.

But the Lord asked, have you reasoned to be angry? Jonah then left the city for a place to the east of it,

where he built himself a hut and waited under it in the shade to see what would happen to

the city. And when the Lord God provided a gourd plant that grew up over Jonah's head,

giving shade that relieved him of any discomfort. Jonah was very happy over the plant.

But the next morning at dawn, God sent a worm that attacked the plant so that it withered.

And when the sun arose, God sent a burning east wind, and the sun beat upon Jonah's head

till he became faint.

Then Jonah asked for death, saying, I would be better off dead than alive.

But God said to Jonah, have you reason to be angry over the plant?

I have reason to be angry, Jonah answered, angry enough to die.

Then the Lord said,

You are concerned over the plant which cost you no labor and which you did not raise, it came up in one night,

and in one night it perished. And should I not be concerned over Nineveh, the great city,

in which there are more than 120,000 persons who cannot distinguish the right hand from their left,

not to mention the many cattle. The word of the Lord.

...