Our instinct is to justify, to preserve our status and narratives, even when they come at the cost of compassion. Jonah’s resentment toward Nineveh’s repentance mirrors our own discomfort when grace extends to those we view as undeserving. The story challenges our assumptions about justice and mercy. The divine concern is not selective; it reaches across borders, beliefs, and behaviors. If we find ourselves disturbed by mercy granted to others, especially enemies, then something in us needs transforming. A Buddhist prophet might expose our contradictions, revealing how national pride blinds us to the destruction we enable. That confrontation is uncomfortable, but necessary. The question remains: do we truly want to become instruments of mercy, or merely keep our reputations intact?
May we abandon self-righteousness,
embrace mercy without exception,
and awaken to the call of compassion beyond our borders.
(inspired by Megan McKenna, Prophets: Words of Fire)