Prayer has the power to change the mind of God!

October 06, 2025 Monday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Daily Readings: Jonah 1:1- 2:1, 11; Luke 10:25-37

God chooses Jonah to go to Nineveh, an Assyrian city. But Jonah decides to disobey and flees to Tarshish, far from the presence of the Lord. The Lord intervenes with a storm, and when the sailors cast lots, the lot falls on Jonah. He confesses that he is the cause of the calamity and tells them to throw him into the sea so that it will calm down. After offering a short prayer for God’s forgiveness, Jonah is cast into the water, and to everyone’s surprise, the sea becomes calm. According to God’s plan, a large fish swallows Jonah and keeps him in its belly for three days and three nights. From within the fish, Jonah prays a heartfelt prayer, which becomes a turning point in his life. At God’s command, the fish spat Jonah onto dry land. The whole story is dramatic: Jonah begins as disobedient, yet his prayer makes all the difference.

In the Gospel, it is striking to see a learned man ask such a basic question: How can I inherit eternal life? He answers correctly when asked what is written in the law, love of God and love of his neighbor. But seeking to justify himself, the lawyer raises another question: Who is my neighbor? In response, Jesus tells us the parable of the Good Samaritan. Unlike the priest and Levite, who ignore the wounded man, the Samaritan proves himself sensitive and compassionate. He interrupts his day’s plans, gives his time, spends his money, and uses his energy to care for the stranger in need. Ironically, those who served God at the altar failed to respond to the dying man. The lawyer rightly concludes that the true neighbor is the one who shows mercy. The challenge remains the same for all of us: to reach out to anyone in need, at all costs.

Call to Action: The Good Samaritan is an example of neighborly love and service without expecting any reward. Do I look for appreciation and gratitude for the small things I do?