R/Evolution

Our readings today center on the story of Jonah.

Jonah is the famous prophet of the Hebrew scriptures who is called by God to go and preach a message of repentance to the people of Nineveh. Being sound of mind, Jonah heads in the other direction! God had other plans, however.

Jonah gets thrown off the boat he’s on and is swallowed by a big fish/whale (the Greek word is a ‘big sea creature’).  For three days he sits in the belly of this creature and is then spit out on the shore of Nineveh.  In today’s passage, Jonah finally does as God asks and tells the people of Nineveh to repent.  And they do!

I find two parts of this story offering us something worth considering.

First, it’s very likely that  – like Jonah – God has put things on your heart and mind that God hopes that you will take up somehow.  These could be things you feel called to do or say or get involved with, but they will require risk.  They will require you to become visible and vulnerable somehow.  There’s even the possibility of rejection. What you’re being asked to do feels scary or daunting and you’d like to run away from it sometimes.

Second, like the people of Nineveh, we’re all just living our lives – until an invitation to change comes our way.  It may come from a partner, family member or friend.  It might come from another group in society.  It might come from a podcast, sermon, or book. It may come from a difficult experience.  However it arrives, we receive the invitation and act on it. 

In Greek, the word used for what the people of Nineveh did was metanoia. It means a change of mind, a reorientation, a fundamental transformation of outlook, and a new way of loving others and God. This is what God hopes for from us, and it’s what Jesus hoped for from the people of his time.

Jesus hoped they’d read the signs of the times and heed the warnings.  He hoped they’d recognize the injustice and do something about it.  He hoped they’d return to right relationship with God, with each other and with the earth. He hoped they’d take up the r/evolution. Instead, they demanded a sign.  They wanted reassurance.  They questioned his motives. They went in the other direction.

Recently I heard these words from Assata Shakur read at a rally against police brutality.  They reminded me a lot of the message that Jesus brought to the world and what he invites us to:

“we need a r/evolution of the mind. we need a r/evolution of the heart. we need a r/evolution of the spirit…are you ready to sacrifice to end world hunger. to sacrifice to end colonialism. to end neo-colonialism. to end racism. to end sexism.

r/evolution means the end of exploitation. r/evolution means respecting people from other cultures. r/evolution is creative.

r/evolution means treating your mate as a friend and an equal. r/evolution is sexy.

r/evolution means respecting and learning from your children. r/evolution is beautiful.

r/evolution means protecting the people. the plants. the animals. the air. the water. r/evolution means saving this planet.

r/evolution is love.”

I can imagine God saying to Jonah, “Go tell this to the people of Nineveh.”  And I can imagine the people of Nineveh saying, “Yes, we are ready!”

And I can imagine Jesus turning to us today and saying, “Go and bear this message!” And we say…

And Jesus turns to us today and says, “Are you ready to join the r/evolution?” And we say…