Wednesday, March 12
It’s no secret that we are in the middle of an epidemic of loneliness. Individualism has led to a lot of the political chaos we are seeing unfold. I feel it in my own life, as I have yet to recover from a mid-pandemic move to a new city and simultaneous transition into parenthood. It’s a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy: the longer we go without interacting with other people, the harder it is to do so, and the more we become enmeshed in our own worldview and our own circle of people who are just like us.
But today’s readings remind me of the importance of being open to those around us. In the first reading, we hear how the people of Nineveh repent after Jonah delivers God’s message. And in the Gospel reading, Jesus mentions both the people of Nineveh and the “queen of the South”, referring to the Queen of Sheba who travels to see King Solomon and “test him with subtle questions” (1 Kings 10:1). In both of these stories, the people whom Jesus holds up as examples allow themselves to be changed by their encounters with someone else—the Queen of Sheba accepts and is amazed by Solomon’s answers and wisdom, just as the people of Nineveh accept and act upon Jonah’s message about their sins.
The people of Nineveh did not go anywhere—they simply remained present and receptive to the person who showed up in the midst of their lives. The Queen of Sheba, on the other hand, sought out an opportunity for encounter.
When I reflect on the things separating me from God, the excuses I make to remain in my comfort zone stand out: It’ll be boring or I’ll be the only one under the age of 70 or I’m too tired or I won’t know anyone else there or My kids will miss me! Now, these all might be true. But I also know a deeper truth—the times in my life when I have been most rooted in community are also the times that I have felt most myself, and most connected to God.
So this Lent, I’m trying to follow the examples that Jesus upholds in today’s gospel. To be present to those I encounter in my everyday life, I am giving up looking at social media while my kids are in the room. And to be more like the Queen of Sheba who seeks out opportunities for growth, I am going to try to attend one community event every week.
I invite you to take a little bit of time to reflect on the encounters in your own life as well. Is there a particular person God is calling you to be more open to listening to? Is there a way to build community near you that you’ve been avoiding? Is God asking you to seek out encounters with people who are different from you? And are you open to being changed by what you find?
Kelly Sankowski is a writer and editor based in Toledo, Ohio. Her monthly Substack, The Moon's Shadow, shares her recent writing and reflections on the themes of women in the Church, bodily spirituality and motherhood.
You can find out more about her here.