I like being comfortable. It's nice. Do I let myself get uncomfortable enough when I think about the sufferings of others? Or do I keep that far enough away so that it doesn't impinge upon my comfort?
When Jesus tells us that we should love others just as we love ourselves, it's a bit of an impossible command. Can we really love others with the same focus and passion that we save for ourselves? We treat ourselves when we can... can we treat others with the same excitement?
Here, Jonah resents God's deliverance of the people of Nineveh. He sets up camp outside of town, and God sends a plant for some shade. When God sends a worm to devour the plant and Jonah loses his shade, he is furious, far more furious than he ever was at the thought of the people of Nineveh perishing. He greatly favored his own comfort above the safety of others.
So what do we do with this story? In many ways, it's a wake up call for us. Are we open to considering how much energy and resources we spend on ourselves, and how we might give up some of that comfort to serve others? Do we recognize the suffering of others? Do we love them enough? Do we love ourselves too much?
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