Stereotypes (2012-01-22)

This is my homily for Sunday 22 January 2012. I am a Catholic chaplain in Teaneck at Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) campus and for the FDU Newman Catholic Association. We celebrate Catholic Mass - during Fall and Spring semester - every Sunday Evening (7:30 p.m.) at the Interfaith Chapel, 842 River Road, Teaneck, NJ.

[_00_] This Sunday, one of our special prayer intentions is for the remembrance of the precious gift of life from conception until natural death. With the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, we observed many changes in legislation and attitudes which differ from our profession of faith.

In our faith, we recognize explicitly that God is the Lord and giver of life. He planted the first seeds of life on the earth and in our own physical and spiritual being. We are his co-workers, helping to nurture this life.

Tomorrow, Monday – in Washington DC – thousands will march in solidarity and prayer remembering that we are stewards of the life which God gives.

This reminds us that work is required both by the crowd and the individual … to nurture and protect life. It is not only the task of the Supreme Court but of our community – and our conscience -- to help mothers and fathers.

In our church, we also recognize that many have suffered due to choices surrounding unborn children. We may need time to heal. Reconciliation and new life is possible.

A ministry of the U.S. Catholic Church is also a program called Rachel’s Vineyard – Rachel’s Vineyard – which was started by a Catholic psychologist, Dr. Theresa Burke, to help this healing process. Information is available online – www.rachelsvineyard.org

Through Rachel’s Vineyard and other ministries, we pray for the protection of life at all stages.

[_01_] Haven’t we all been taught about the danger of stereotypes?

In other words, we are taught about the danger, the harm that can be caused by steroyping.

The standardized mental photograph picture which maybe commonly stored on my hard drive (my temporal lobe or my brain.). Then, easily do I click and view that photo, that stereotype which represents – an oversimplified opinion, a prejudiced attitude, or an uncritical judgment.

[_02_] We read and hear today, in our first reading, about Jonah who is on his way to the city of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria.

In Jonah’s memory is stored a stereotype of the Ninevites, the people of a nation hostile to Israel.

For example, in the 2nd book of Kings we read that…

“In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah (of Judah), Sennacherib, king of Assyria, went on an expedition against all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them.” (2 Kings 18:13).

Assyria was a friend neither to Israel nationally nor to Jonah personally.

[_03_] Seeing only the stereotype and the history of Nineveh, Jonah wants to avoid Nineveh. Being sent there as a prophet by the Lord, Jonah goes in the opposite direction.

Rather than going east to Nineveh, Jonah goes to the local marine terminal, to the harbor. Jonah wants to go west to Tarshish.

And, many of us are familiar with what happens next. On board, the ship is engulfed in a storm. And, the sailors come to understand that the storm is a warning to Jonah who now asks to be thrown overboard.

But, even here, the Lord rescues him. Jonah is swallowed by the great fish and returned to land.

[_04_] In our reading today, we encounter Jonah, Part II, the sequel as he enters Nineveh on foot after the attempt to flee by boat.

As we read, “Jonah began his journey through the city, and had gone but a single day's walk announcing, "Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed, " when the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth.” (Jonah 3:4-5)

[_05_] The Good News for Nineveh is about repentance, forgiveness, mercy.
Their fasting and their penitential practice indicates their contrition, their sorrow for their sins.

However, Jonah remains unsatisfied.

As one biblical commentator writes, Jonah – in Part One – was seen escaping because he knew that the Lord would have mercy on the Ninevites if they repented.

But, Jonah has only one photo of the Ninevites on his hard drive. That is, Jonah only sees Nineveh as an enemy to be avoided.

In this regard, Jonah’s vision is hindered by this photo, this image.

[_06_] What images have we stored?

Sometimes, these images can keep us away from ___relationships or from ___repentance.

1. Relationships – family, friends.
Do I stereotype the behavior of others? Do I presume that past behavior will always be repeated?

Yes, we have memorized and observed carefully the behaviors of certain family members, close friends. For example, based on a particular news item (good or bad), or weather (hot or cold), we may be able to predict what they will say or not say.

Or, we may be able to predict the way another person will express anger. We may have been hurt by the pattern of another person’s behavior.

All of these are images on our personal hard drives and devices. Some are crystal clear.

They may, however, not be perfect indicators of the future.

In the Book of Jonah, the enemy “Assyria” welcomes Jonah’s message. Renewal and peace are possible.

2. Repentance –

Do I believe that others can repent and change? Jonah has trouble here.
You and I may recognize the personal – internal – struggle in repenting of our own sins. It is not easy to admit we are wrong.

Do we presume it is, therefore, easy for others to do so?

Is it easier for Nineveh than for Jonah?

Can I give some credit to the other person for trying?

After all, Jonah observes with his own eyes the fasting, the sackcloth, the penances of Nineveh.

Perhaps, Jonah assumes this was easier for Nineveh because they repented later in life… because their period of infidelity (and fun?) lasted longer than his did.

Is it really an easy task to repent?

Should we avoid all stereotypes.

Jonah also is a stereotype. From him, we can learn a few things. [_fin_]