Jonah Revived

 

One of the lectionary readings today is from the tiny book called Jonah in the Hebrew scriptures. The Common Lectionary is a schedule of scripture passages which takes liturgical congregations through the books of the bible over the course of three years. It is imperfect yet it invites a discipline which I found helpful through decades of congregational worship. I did venture along other scriptural paths at times but following the seasons of the church year was meaningful. 

Some of the books get short shrift and one of them is Jonah, a curious parable only a couple of pages in length about a reluctant and whiny prophet who ends up being a bellyache in more ways than one.  Jonah doesn't want to preach repentance to the city of Nineveh, even though the citizens do eventually turn from from their sinful ways. He travels by ship and ends up being what Newfoundlanders used to call a "jinker: A person (on a vessel) bringing bad luck; a Jonah." (dictionary of Newfoundland English). 

You know how it unfolds: Jonah is thrown overboard and ends up in the belly of a large fish and after three days and nights is spewed him out again. He travelled to Nineveh, did his preachin', is still grumpy, and ends up under a shade plant which is wilted by wind and sun. Okay, a story that sounds like a weird dream may not warrant much lectionary action. 

Some years ago I was in Santa Fe New Mexico related to study leave and came upon the work of a linocut printmaker named Jack McCarthy in a museum shop. He improbably does both erotic and religious images and I was quite taken by the edgy whimsicality of his images. He created his own Jonah Redux: the book of Jonah according to Jack (redux means revived). I purchased one book illustration print on the spot and later corresponded with him. When I bought another he actually shipped the entire book to me, on spec, but I declined buying it even though it's brilliant, and sent it back. 

One of the pieces I purchased is a tad rude but I've shown it to bible study groups over the years and to my relief participants found it amusing, even-laugh-out loud funny. 

Is there a Creation Time message in the story of Jonah? It's a stretch, although there is a lot about the natural world in this bizarre parable.