Jonah 1:1 - 2:1, 11 / Luke 10:25-37
The late Cardinal John Henry Newman struggled to understand the mystery of his own life, as well as the meaning and purpose of life.
As he prayed, he came to this conclusion: God has created him to do some definite service. God has committed some work to him which He has not committed to another. Hence, he has a particular mission in life.
Cardinal Newman was an Anglican cleric, but after researching and studying Scriptures and Church doctrines, he felt that he had to return to the roots of the Church.
Subsequently, he became a Catholic and devoted his life and intellectual talents to teaching and explaining the Catholic faith.
That was what he felt was his mission and meaning of his life.
As we reflect on today's readings, we also see two characters who had to struggle with their mission and finding the meaning of their lives.
The prophet Jonah tried to avoid his mission but God's call was just too strong to evade.
In the gospel, Jesus portrayed the Samaritan as someone who faced the basic human mission of helping another human being who was in need, and that called for the putting aside of the discrimination and the animosity.
So God has a mission for us, for each one of us.
Certainly, each of us has a particular calling to a particular service to God.
But let us also not forget our basic human mission, and that is to be a neighbour of love to those in need.