Preaching Goes Viral

Birthing the New Year 5781: Break. Breathe. Push. (Rosh Hashanah)

Analogies to Mythic Narratives

Jonah is called by God to go to the people of Ninevah and tell them to repent. But he has no interest in helping them. He tries to flee from God by boat and ends up cast overboard where Jonah says in the text: Y’soveveini kol mishbarecha “Your breakers crashed down around me.” Here the word crisis shares the same root as breakers, those giant, pounding ocean waves that can overwhelm and engulf us. Jonah searches for air but his lungs can’t find it— we can imagine his terror As he thinks—I can’t breathe. I. Can’t. Breathe. But Jonah was fortunate.  He doesn’t die. God delivers a great fish to swallow him. and he finds his breath—in the belly of a whale. It’s a respite from the storm, even as it is… solitary confinement. Jonah is there for 3 days. He prays, reflects, and comes to understand his purpose. Jonah is transformed.

2022-12-13

Angela W. Buchdahl

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