Tessera Materials

Opening Prayer

Meet us, O Christ,
in the stillness of this moment.
Move us, O Spirit,
to quiet our hearts.
Mend us, O Father,
from yesterday’s harms.

From the discords of yesterday,
resurrect our peace.
From the discouragements of yesterday,
resurrect our hope.
From the weariness of yesterday,
resurrect our strength.
From the doubts of yesterday,
resurrect our faith.
From the wounds of yesterday,
resurrect our love.

Let us enter this new day, aware of our need, and awake
to your grace, O Lord. Amen.

Read/Reflect: Jonah 3:10 - 4:11 (a reading from the Revised Common Lectionary for Sept 20, 2026)

3:10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.
4:1 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

4 But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?”

5 Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant[a] and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.”

9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?”

“It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”

10 But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”

God being slow to anger and abounding in love is repeated over 20 times in the Bible. In Psalm 86 the Psalmist calls this out about God’s character and, as a result, says “I call on you in the day of my distress, for you will answer me.” Perhaps this ties into Jonah’s own story.

God sends Jonah to preach to the Assyrians. But Jonah runs. We're never told why. It's a mystery. But when God relents and spares the Assyrians, Jonah finally spits out the answer in a fit of rage:

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. Jonah’s seething anger brought about distress. And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster."

Jonah fled because he knew God would forgive his enemies. Because that is who God is and what God does. God is compassionate and gracious. Slow to anger and abounding steadfast love.

Even toward the people we hate.

• Share together what this is stirring within you. What kind of movement might the Spirit of God be inviting you into at this time toward those you might feel hatred?

Closing Prayer

O God,
from your providing hand even the dissatisfied and grumbling
receive what they need for their lives.
Teach us your ways of justice
and lead us to practice your generosity,
so that we may live a life worthy of the gospel
made known through your Son Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

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