The book Jonah tells the story of a legendary
figure. "In this parable Jonah the prophet appears in a much less
flattering light than the foreigners to whom he was sent to preach repentance.
God rebukes his messenger for becoming angry when the hated Ninevites did
repent and receive divine mercy." [The Bible For Today's Church, p. 208]
Written in the 5th or 4th century BC by unknown compilers, Jonah (a book
of 4 short chapters) emphasizes God's love and mercy for all people. Today's
reading is Jonah's psalm of thanksgiving inside the fish - after he is called
to preach repentance to Ninevah, takes a ship in the opposite direction,
is cast from the storm-wrecked ship, and is swallowed by a great fish (no
"whale" mentioned in the book).