Last week we considered what Home and Belonging mean to us. This is World Homelessness Week, so we offer more food for thought on that subject - reflecting on biblical texts in the light of ‘homecoming’ and possible human responses to these. Feel free to take and focus on only what is helpful.
The book of Jonah is a short, weird and psychologically fascinating story in the Hebrew bible. The chapter recommended for reading today describes how flighty Jonah finally obeys YHWH’s - God’s - command and goes far from home, to debauched Nineveh, to warn citizens their behaviour will lead to annihilation.
Against all odds, the chastised people immediately listen and take drastic, remorseful action - they choose to change their ways and come home to YHWH. Just what Jonah hoped for?
Well, no. In later verses, Jonah goes off in a huff about this. It turns out, he was kind of looking forward to watching them get their come-uppance!
What do you think or feel about this?
Photo by Taychin Olanwichitwong on Unsplash
Jonah may be a comic character - but most of us can probably admit to seeing ourselves in him.
There is an instinctive aspiration to find security in being better or having more than or proving ourselves right before others; denying them a full homecoming in some way. If ‘they’ mend their ways, where does that leave us?!
Consider - why societies tolerate homelessness, juxtaposed with obscene wealth; allow and even celebrate the rich growing ever richer; prioritise the winning of arguments over finding truth; choose to follow the egotistical and power-hungry leader. When all of these things prevent swathes of people from finding refuge.
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In Luke’s gospel, in a chapter that addresses belonging in various ways, we read the story of sisters Mary and Martha.
Jesus comes to visit and Martha gets annoyed; her sister sits and socialises, while she does all the work! Sometimes, this is interpreted as an indictment against busyness. Perhaps it is more a warning against our tendency to become anxious when we watch another person ‘come home’ to themselves - as is represented by conversation with Jesus.
Might Martha feel her own security threatened, watching Mary come home to herself?
How easy do you find it to delight in someone else’s ‘homecoming’? (Consider a person you find intimidating……) Have you ever felt someone wants to prevent you coming home, or accessing Jesus?
Home might be that space where we can rest; be ourselves; know we are loved and have enough.
In evolutionary terms, we are conditioned to compete for territory - although the gospels offer an alternative. We read last week, relevant for World Homelessness Week, that Jesus identified with those who had no home and prioritised clearing the spiritual and political pathways to get them there. As with Mary and Martha, he met people where they were - some listening, others busy. In the end, he willingly relinquished his own security and home in YHWH in order to offer homecoming to others.
Does feeling understood relate to feeling at home, for you? And do you associate Jesus with a sense of being understood? Why / why not?
What is the place of remorse, in all this?
We offer this adaptation of Psalm 130 as a stepping stone for further reflection: